On November 12, on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Dublin, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
They discussed the ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and the future of Belarus. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that peace must be just and lasting and that Belarus must not be left under Russian control.
“We must not give in to dictators. We all want peace, but not at the expense of other nations’ independence. It is crucial for Belarusians that the outcome of the negotiations does not turn our country into a consolation prize for Putin. Belarus must not become a bargaining chip. Without a free and independent Belarus, there can be no lasting security in the region”, she noted.
The parties also discussed sanctions against the Lukashenka regime, including sanctions on potash fertilizer exports from Belarus, and continued international pressure on the regime until systemic change takes place in Belarus. Canada is one of the world’s largest producers of potash fertilizers.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Canada for its consistent support for the Belarusian people and civil society.
