The Belarusian leader and representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet held a briefing for diplomats based in Warsaw. Ambassadors from 30 countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Lithuania, as well as diplomats from Poland attended the meeting.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the situation with political prisoners, mentioning those held incommunicado by the regime, and called for more decisive actions for their release and more involvement of international organizations. She also stressed the need to keep Belarus on the agenda and support Belarusian media, human rights defenders, and civil society.
The parties discussed security in the region and the situation with Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for using international mechanisms to bring the Lukashenka regime to justice. She also raised the issue of Belarus’ European perspective, emphasizing how important it is for Belarusians to see a positive alternative to the “Russian world”. She called on countries to support Belarusians’ European aspirations.
She urged all countries to facilitate the simplification of migration procedures for Belarusians, including visa issuance, residence permits, and international protection status. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya noted that samples of the new Belarusian passport would be ready by March, and requests for their recognition would be sent to national governments.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also met with the Ambassador of Canada. Among other issues, they discussed the leader’s potential visit to Ottawa.
