On the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the release of a group of political prisoners and the humanitarian efforts of the United States, in particular Special Envoy John Coale. At the same time, she stressed that individual releases must lead to an end to repression, new arrests, and political persecution altogether.
The parties discussed the EU’s sanctions policy toward the Lukashenka regime, including the situation around potash transit and the possible “grand deal”, and the EU’s position on this. They also addressed the regional security situation and the regime’s threats to neighboring countries. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya underscored the need to maintain pressure as long as the regime continues its repression and supports Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for continued assistance to people affected by repression and released political prisoners, as well as to independent media, human rights defenders, and civil society.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am grateful to Kaja Kallas and the entire European Union for their principled and consistent position. The EU has a strong interest in seeing Belarus become a free, democratic, and, above all, safe and predictable country. I see unity among EU countries on Belarus. This is important.
It is crucial to distinguish Belarusians from the regime and Belarus from Russia. While isolating the regime, we must not isolate Belarusians. And I see that the European Union understands this very well”.
