In Copenhagen, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
The discussions focused on key challenges facing Belarus and the wider region, including:
- Release of political prisoners. More than 1,300 people remain behind bars. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among transatlantic partners and rehabilitation programs for those released.
- Belarus and the war against Ukraine. The regime’s involvement in the aggression and the upcoming Zapad-2025 military exercises were raised. The need to increase pressure on Lukashenka was discussed.
- Independence of Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the threat of Belarus losing statehood due to the growing Russian presence.
- Safety of Belarusians. She spoke about the persecution of political prisoners’ families, cross-border pressure, and disappearances of activists. Participants agreed on the need for new protection mechanisms.
- Legal stay in the EU. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for a common European solution for exiled Belarusians who, because of the regime’s policies, only have temporary legal documents.
- Accountability of the regime. The parties discussed Lithuania’s referral of the regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that accountability must be inevitable.
- Support for civil society. She called for supporting media, human rights defenders, and cultural initiatives, which form the foundation of the democratic movement.
Following the meeting, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stated:
“This was a very constructive conversation. I am grateful to Kaja Kallas and the Danish government for their leadership in supporting Belarus. Europe must remain principled and consistent in its policies. The release of political prisoners is our priority, and it is the first step toward more systemic changes. We also spoke extensively about support for Ukraine, since the fate of Ukraine determines the fate of Belarus”.
