During her working visit to Mallorca, the Belarusian leader participated in the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments, where she delivered a speech and met with several speakers. The politicians discussed support for the civil society and media, while Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged the EU countries to continue pressuring the regime and helping the repressed Belarusians.
The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the recent Belarusian-Finnish conference organized by Finland involving Belarus’ democratic forces, civil society, and diplomats. The politicians spoke Belarusian.
With the Speaker of the Polish Sejm, Szymon Holownia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the situation with political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut. The Belarusian leader asked Poland to strengthen support for independent Belarusian media and civil society.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya invited the Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, László Kövér, to support relations with Belarus’ democratic forces. She also called on Hungary to adhere to the common EU line and adopt a tougher stance vis-a-vis the Lukashenka regime.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the Speaker of the Estonian Parliament, Lauri Hussar, for the MP’s decision not to impose restrictions on Belarusians. Mr. Hussar and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also discussed Estonia’s support for Belarus’ democratic forces and Ukraine.
In Mallorca, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met for the first time with the President of the Italian Parliament, Lorenzo Fontana, and the Vice President, Licia Ronzulli. The parties discussed support for Belarus and Ukraine, as well as the interparliamentary meeting of the groups “For a Democratic Belarus” in the Italian Parliament, which will take place in the fall. Italy has the largest such group, uniting 64 MPs.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed humanitarian assistance for the repressed and cooperation between Belarusian democratic forces and regional authorities in Germany with the Speaker of the German Bundesrat, Manuela Schwesig.
During the meeting between Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the new Speaker of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, Francina Armengol, the parties agreed to establish a Belarus friendship group in the country’s newly-elected Parliament. Ms. Armengol pledged to support the Belarusian issue on Spain’s agenda.
With the President of the Slovenian Parliament, Urška Klakočar Zupančič, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed creating a group “For Democratic Belarus” in the Slovenian Parliament. The Belarusian leader called on Slovenia to support the issue of Belarus in the UN Security Council, and Slovenian politicians to join the campaign of symbolic godparenthood over political prisoners in Belarus.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked the Speaker of the Parliament of Cyprus, Annita Demetriou, for mentioning Belarus and calling for pressure on the regime during her speech at the summit. The speaker informed the Belarusian leader that Cyprus is actively working on identifying assets related to the Lukashenka regime and supports all European sanctions.
The Speakers of the Moldovan and Armenian Parliaments, Igor Grosu and Alen Simonyan, thanked Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for her speech at the summit, during which she called on the EU to support not only Belarus and Ukraine but also Armenia and Moldova, which aspire to a European future.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, for addressing the issue of Belarus in her speech.
