Tsikhanouskaya Discusses Continued Support For Belarusians Affected By Repression With Croatian Prime Minister

Reform.news Editorial Team · 13 November 2026, 15:26

https://reform.news/en/tsikhanouskaya-discusses-continued-support-for-belarusians-affected-by-repression-with-croatian-prime-minister/

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed continued assistance for Belarusians affected by political repression with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. She also called for maintaining pressure on the Lukashenka regime and preventing Belarus from remaining under Russian control as a result of peace negotiations on Ukraine.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Dublin.

Tsikhanouskaya thanked Croatia for supporting Belarusian democratic forces, inviting them to Three Seas Initiative summits, and participating in the International Humanitarian Fund for Assistance to Repressed Belarusians. As Tsikhanouskaya’s Office noted, the fund has already provided assistance to former political prisoners and others affected by repression. The sides discussed continuing the initiative.

“We greatly appreciate Croatia’s assistance. For thousands of people who have been released from prison, lost their jobs and health, or been forced to leave Belarus, it is an opportunity to start their lives over. It is very important that this assistance continues. There is never enough of it,” Tsikhanouskaya said.

She stressed that arrests and political persecution continue in Belarus. According to her, genuine changes in the Belarusian authorities’ policies can only be discussed after all political prisoners have been released and repression has ceased for an extended period.

Another topic at the meeting was the Russian-Ukrainian war and the ongoing negotiations. Tsikhanouskaya said Europe must be involved in the negotiation process.

“Now that negotiations are underway, it is particularly important to continue supporting Ukraine. Europe must have a seat at the negotiating table. The fate of nations cannot be decided behind their backs. It is essential for Belarusians that a peace agreement does not cement the status quo in which Belarus remains a Russian satellite in all but name,” she stressed.

“Belarusians must not be left behind a new Iron Curtain. But we must not make concessions to the Lukashenka regime either, as it is trying, together with Russia, to undermine European unity. We must support the Belarusian people while maintaining pressure on the regime,” she said.