Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Secretary General of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Hackett, and the Irish Ambassador to Lithuania and Belarus, Séadhna MacHugh, in her Vilnius office. The Belarusian leader thanked Ireland for supporting Belarusian media and cultural initiatives as several projects have been implemented since 2020 with the help of the Irish Foreign Affairs Department and Embassy. The Embassy in Vilnius is responsible for contacts with the democratic forces of Belarus, while Irish diplomats have not presented their credentials to the dictator.
The Head of the United Transitional Cabinet shared her personal connection with Ireland, as she visited the country as a teenager through programs supporting children affected by the aftermath of the Chornobyl disaster.
During the meeting, the Belarusian leader talked about the International humanitarian fund to support political prisoners established recently in Norway and supported by Sweden. The fund will assist the repressed and the families of political prisoners by providing rehabilitation and other aid. She urged Ireland to support the fund, mentioning that more than 1,500 people have already served their prison terms, and they now need psychological and medical assistance.
Mr. Hackett and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also discussed EU sanctions against Belarus. A new sanctions package against the Lukashenka regime is expected this month. The Belarusian leader expressed hope that the EU would not make any exceptions for potash exports and would also ease migration procedures for Belarusians.
The parties discussed cooperation in culture, support for projects strengthening Belarusian national identity, and visas for Belarusians. Ireland will continue issuing visas through its consulate in Moscow and diplomatic missions in other countries. They also addressed the legalization of stay problems faced by Belarusians in Ireland and discussed the possibility of Irish authorities recognizing expired Belarusian passports and issuing alien passports. Ireland will consider the measures taken by other European countries in this direction.
