The Belarusian leader met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavský, in Vilnius. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assistance to former political prisoners and the Civil Society Program, which allows Belarusian activists to obtain Czech visas. Several Belarusians have received international protection and government scholarships. Minister Lipavský mentioned that an additional 5 government scholarships have been allocated for Belarusians in Czechia for 2024-2025.
During the conversation, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for exceptions from the law on visa restrictions in the Czech Republic for Belarusian students and relatives of the people who cannot reunite with their families due to persecution in Belarus.
The Belarusian leader also raised the issue of automating the issuance of travel documents and alien passports. She proposed to the Czech side to prepare a guide that would help Belarusians who cannot obtain a new passport due to Lukashenka’s decree suspending consular services abroad.
