On June 16, at the Italian Embassy in Warsaw, the Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, held a briefing for ambassadors and diplomats from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The briefing was also attended by the Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Pavel Latushka; Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski; and her Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the democratic forces’ plans, efforts to secure the release of political prisoners, sanctions, and support for independent media and civil society.
The discussion focused on:
- next steps to secure the release of political prisoners;
- the outcomes of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s first visit to Ukraine and Belarus–Ukraine cooperation;
- continued pressure on the regime until repression ends and systemic changes begin in Belarus;
- increased access to Schengen visas and mobility programs for Belarusians;
- ways to hold the regime accountable through international courts;
- support for Belarusian independent media, civil society, and cultural initiatives;
- transnational repression and legal challenges faced by Belarusians in exile;
- preparations for a post-Lukashenka Belarus and possible scenarios for democratic change.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “While the situation may seem difficult, it is not hopeless. And I remain optimistic. What we need now is to build new momentum, strengthen our capacities, and prepare for new opportunities that may arise when no one expects them. And I know that we are not alone on this path. We have allies. We have you. We have one another. And together, we will overcome every challenge”.
