On January 21, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President and CEO of Yara International, Svein Tore Holsether, during the World Economic Forum in Davos. The meeting was also attended by Yara’s Director for Global Arenas, Ciara Porawski.
Yara was one of the main partners of Belaruskali and a buyer of potash fertilizers from Belarus. After the events of 2020, the large-scale repression, and the regime’s involvement in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yara suspended cooperation with Minsk and supported Belarusian trade unions and repressed workers.
Mr. Holsether and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the situation regarding sanctions on potash fertilizers and the prospects for resuming cooperation with Belarus. Mr. Holsether emphasized that any decisions about returning to cooperation with Minsk would be coordinated with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the democratic forces.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya expressed hope that Yara will eventually return to Belarus once democratic changes begin, as cooperating with Minsk now would strengthen the regime, and revenue from fertilizer sales would fund the war and repression. She thanked Yara for its principled position and support for workers and independent trade unions. They also discussed the situation of released trade union leaders, including Alexander Yarashuk, and repressed Belaruskali workers.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Let me thank Yara for their principled stance and support. Back in 2020, Yara supported Belarusian workers, demanded the release of repressed individuals, and worked to improve labor conditions. This is an example of an honest business built on values. Once Lukashenka is out, I am confident that Yara and other companies will return to Belarus, bring investments, and strengthen the Belarusian economy”.
