On November 12, ahead of the European Political Community Summit in Dublin, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked the European Union for its continued support for Belarus’s democratic forces and its assistance to Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression. She stressed that the futures of Belarus and Ukraine are closely intertwined and that a free and independent Belarus would make all of Europe safer.
Ursula von der Leyen and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed maintaining and strengthening European assistance programs for independent Belarusian media, human rights defenders, civil society, cultural initiatives, young people, and those affected by repression.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Independent Belarusian media reach millions of Belarusians every year. They bring people the truth, counter Russian propaganda, and help people maintain their connection with the free world.
Our human rights defenders protect people from persecution and support political prisoners and their families. Cultural figures preserve the Belarusian language, culture, and national identity. Youth and education programs nurture a new generation of Belarusians who see their future in Europe.
These are the things that help Belarusian society withstand repression, preserve its European identity, and prepare for democratic change”.
