Honorable Speaker Brukhan,
Dear delegates of the Coordination Council,
Dear Belarusians!
First of all, let me thank the organizers. Such hearings of representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet before the Coordination Council show that we know how to work together and that our agreements work.
Thanks to Pavel Latushka, Volha Zazulinskaya, Margarita Vorykhava, Pavel Barkouski, Uladzimir Astapenka, Vadzim Kabanchuk for your reports and tireless work for the sake of Belarus. Thanks to all representatives, their deputies, and both current and former members of the Cabinet.
You work in difficult conditions, under time pressure, and practically without resources. Under the threat of repression and persecution. But despite all this, you manage to show results. And over these years, we have really achieved a lot together.
Members of the Coordination Council also understand that work in politics is thankless and risky. Now, both the Cabinet and the Coordination Council are under attack by the regime. Each of you already has one, two, or three criminal cases against you. Your relatives are being terrorized. You are being threatened. And yet you continue your work. For this, each of you has my deepest respect and gratitude.
Both the Cabinet and the Coordination Council are the pillars on which our democratic forces are built. We must maintain unity and continue our work. We represent an alternative vision for Belarus. And many Belarusians associate their hope for change with your work.
Today, I ask the Coordination Council to support and approve the appointment of several representatives and their offices. And also to consider how we can better organize cooperation between the Coordination Council and the Cabinet.
Undoubtedly, there are also shortcomings. In recent years, we have repeatedly faced difficult situations and sometimes made mistakes – personal, organizational, and communicational. I will be glad to hear your advice on how to improve the Cabinet’s work. The most important thing is that we all learn, draw conclusions, and continue working. Those who do not act do not make mistakes, and we have chosen to act.
I will also be glad to hear proposals for the position of Representative for the Restoration of Law and Order. And, of course, I look forward with anticipation to the joining of Alisa Ryzhychenka to the Cabinet team, who will take the position of Representative for Economy and Finance. This will help us close a critically important direction in the Cabinet, and definitely balance the gender ratio.
At tomorrow’s Conference, we will announce her appointment, as well as changes in the work of the missions. In particular, the Head of the Mission in Ukraine will change.
Also at the Conference, we intend to publish a series of resolutions that the Coordination Council supported yesterday. These include the release of political prisoners, support for veterans, youth, media, and, finally, the defense of Belarusian independence. The latter is particularly important in the context of the negotiations on Ukraine, and we expect important decisions from Kyiv and Washington today or tomorrow.
A few words about the Cabinet’s priorities.
First, the release of political prisoners and support for the repressed. This is an absolute priority. As long as more than 1,100 people remain in prisons, we cannot stop. On the international stage, we continue working to ensure the process of humanitarian releases continues.
And the Representative for Social Affairs, Volha Zazulinskaya, together with her team, helps former detainees, their families, vulnerable groups, and former volunteers. We organize legal and psychological assistance, shelters, mobilize aid for human rights defenders, and funds to the International Humanitarian Fund to support the repressed.
We assist with migration issues faced by Belarusians abroad and work to ensure no one is left alone with their hardship. We have adopted the Concept of Restitution for Victims of Repression, so that Belarusians affected by repression can count on justice in the future.
Culture and national identity. It is precisely through language, culture, and historical memory that we remain a people and defend ourselves against the “Russian world”. The Representative for National Revival, Pavel Barkouski, and his team support initiatives of Belarusian schools and protect language programs abroad. We support festivals, exhibitions, events that preserve and strengthen Belarusian identity. We help Belarusian scientists and creators and advance cultural resistance that shapes the image of Belarus as a European country. Tomorrow, we will present a report on cultural diplomacy – what has been done over five years.
Defense and national security. Representative Vadzim Kabanchuk has analyzed risks and scenarios for Belarus, including in case of new challenges – such as during the Zapad-2025 exercises. He maintains contact with volunteers of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, who are already fighting today for your freedom and ours, and works to ensure that the Belarusian army in the future serves the interests of the people, not the dictator.
Among new directions is assistance to veterans. The Cabinet recently adopted a resolution on supporting Belarusian volunteers, now and in the future. We have prepared the Red Paper on security to present Belarus not only as a threat but also as an opportunity – a necessary component of pan-European security.
Responsibility and sanctions. Here, Pavel Latushka and his team at the National Anti-Crisis Management are doing incredible work. They deal with sanction policies and holding the regime accountable. Lukashenka’s name as an accomplice in the aggression against Ukraine already appears in international lawsuits and investigations.
We cooperate with other organizations such as BELPOL and iSANS, as well as investigative journalists, to close loopholes in sanctions and hold the regime to account.
Economy and preparation of reforms. The new Representative for Economy and Finance, Alisa Ryzhychenka, will coordinate work on preparing economic reforms, attracting investments, and restoring institutions during the transition period.
Also, the Cabinet and the Office, with support from Anatoli Liabedzka, have already developed a draft Constitution, more than 20 draft laws, and reform plans in various spheres – from local governance to the judiciary. In the coming days, we intend to publish many documents. The Office recently presented the Lustration Concept, and we invite the Coordination Council to discuss it. Let’s develop together a roadmap for implementing the European Comprehensive Economic Assistance Plan of 3 billion euros, which Belarus will receive after democratic changes.
International advocacy. There is a large volume of tasks here. This includes international recognition, resolving problems of Belarusians abroad, and mobilizing foreign aid. Currently, together with the EU, we are working on a Civil Society Needs Assessment, which will be presented in October in Brussels. Representative Vladzimir Astapenka is responsible for diplomatic contacts and forming an international coalition to support Belarus. We continue expanding the coalition of allies and developing Strategic Consultations with the EU, USA, UK, Canada, and other partners.
Youth and education. Representative Marharyta Vorykhava advocates and develops programs supporting students and young specialists, helps with diploma nostrification issues and access to scholarships. We want young Belarusians to gain knowledge, experience, and contacts they can use to rebuild the country.
All these directions are interconnected. Culture and education strengthen the nation. Sanctions and international work create pressure on the regime. Economic plans prepare the ground for change, and support for the repressed strengthens our community. This is a comprehensive strategy that should lead Belarus to freedom and a European future.
Dear friends,
Summing up the hearing and the past five years as a whole, I want to highlight the most important thing. We have managed to stand firm. To preserve the agency of Belarusian society. We have created and have functioning institutions of the democratic community, and an ecosystem of diverse organizations and initiatives. Political organizations work together with civil society, and this makes our movement more resilient.
Belarusians are distinguished from the regime, and Belarus is distinguished from Russia. We are consulted when decisions are made about our country. This is a great achievement for the future. Every contact we have built helps us achieve our goals and will help us in the future when a new window of opportunity opens. The Belarusian people maintain moral sovereignty – at a time when the regime has become an outcast and step by step surrenders independence to Russia.
I am very glad that in recent years the status and reputation of the Coordination Council have significantly increased. The Coordination Council delegation has begun work in PACE and in the Congress of Regional Authorities. This would not have happened without the efforts of the United Transitional Cabinet and the Office, which succeeded in adopting a resolution and corresponding decision in PACE.
We will continue to support all institutions of the democratic forces and support the initiatives of the Coordination Council, including in interparliamentary cooperation.
I am glad that the Coordination Council representatives take part in the preparation of the Needs Assessment and Strategic Consultations.
Our missions in Tallinn, Prague, Kyiv, and Brussels are also committed to supporting the initiatives of the Coordination Council as well as representatives of civil society. The more joint initiatives we undertake, the better.
To improve coordination, I also propose using the digital platform SVAE, which offers many opportunities for cooperation, contacts, events, discussions, businesses, and spreading information for Belarusians around the world.
One of the directions where the Cabinet and Coordination Council can work especially closely is improving mobility and solving migration-related issues for Belarusians. I think everyone agrees that our task is to prevent the emergence of an iron curtain between Belarus and Europe.
Through our joint work, we have already managed to solve many problems. For example, in almost half of the European countries, Belarusians are issued alien passports. But unfortunately, problems remain with apostilles and residence permits.
This year, we finally managed to launch the issuance of new passports – the project is still in a pilot phase. We are improving the technical base, security, and negotiating legal status for the documents. This is a complex, long-term project for the future that strengthens our community and raises the issue of Belarus in the world.
Dear friends,
I understand that five years is a long time. Many grow tired and drop out of the race. Many are even ready to turn over the page and take up their own affairs abroad.
But capitulation is not the way out. This is what the regime wants – for the world to forget about Belarus, and for them to continue terror quietly. We will not allow that.
Five years have passed, and some will say: here, your legitimacy has ended. But our legitimacy – mine, the Transitional Cabinet’s, and the Coordination Council’s – comes not only from those elections but also from how we perform our work, whether we represent Belarusians with dignity, and whether we are perceived as reliable partners abroad.
The role that fell to me gives no power, but does provide the opportunity to defend the interests of Belarusians. And I will do everything possible to perform it with dignity until new free elections take place, as soon as such an opportunity opens.
The democratic forces must continue their work. Defend the interests of Belarusians. Speak on behalf of those deprived of voice and rights. Especially now, when the fate of Belarus and the entire region is being decided.
Representatives of the democratic movement may have different views and visions of the situation. For this reason, we gather, debate, and discuss. Personally, I accept any criticism and remarks, but above all, I want to hear ideas and proposals, and see initiative. We are all in the same boat, fighting one enemy, and we share one goal.
Next year, the Coordination Council faces a new election. I hope this campaign will be an opportunity not for new disputes but for finding new ideas and formats.
I would like the Coordination Council to discuss strategic documents and reform projects more often. One of the priorities of the democratic forces is promoting the vision of a new Belarus and a European future. The Coordination Council could review these documents and demonstrate that it is ready to look to the future and make decisions.
In autumn, the Interparliamentary Alliance of Parliamentary Groups “For a Democratic Belarus” will meet in Paris. We have sent an invitation to the Coordination Council leadership to the congress and proposed a plan for cooperation between the Coordination Council and the Alliance.
In conclusion, I want to thank once again everyone who participated in the two-day hearing, the representatives of the Cabinet, the Speaker, and all viewers. I will be glad to answer your questions and hear your proposals.
Thank you for your attention,
Long Live Belarus!
