Фото: Офис Тихановской
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a series of meetings at the Munich Security Conference.
In a conversation with Benedetta Berti, Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Tsikhanouskaya discussed security issues concerning Belarus and the wider region. She noted that in recent years Belarus has effectively turned into a military foothold for Russia: the country’s territory is being used to host Russian troops and offensive weapons, as well as a tool of strategic pressure on NATO.
It was separately emphasised that Russia’s presence in Belarus creates additional risks for the whole of Europe. Therefore, any negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine should take into account the Belarusian factor and the issue of withdrawing Russian troops from Belarusian territory.
They also discussed hybrid operations conducted by the regime and the integration of Belarus’s defence industry into Russia’s interests.
Tsikhanouskaya and Berti agreed to hold public and private events on the Belarusian issue in May during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s spring session in Vilnius. Tsikhanouskaya proposed organising a closed briefing for the Assembly on military and political developments.
At a meeting with EU Special Representative for Human Rights Kaisa Ollongren, the situation in Belarus and political prisoners were discussed.
The sides addressed the humanitarian track and the possible easing of US sanctions imposed over human rights violations in response to the release of detainees and the cessation of repression. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that EU sanctions imposed over the war and hybrid attacks cannot be subject to negotiations on easing.
The international track was also discussed, including cooperation with the United Nations, among them the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and special UN mechanisms, as well as possible steps to increase pressure on the regime.
Tsikhanouskaya handed Ollongren a report by IAPB — an international platform aimed at holding the regime accountable.
At a meeting with European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the situation with nuclear weapons in Belarus and stressed that Russia is increasingly using Belarusian territory and the Belarusian economy for military needs.
Tsikhanouskaya also spoke about negotiations with the US side on the humanitarian release of political prisoners and stressed that strict conditions must be put forward in communication with Lukashenka to prevent a situation in which the regime secures sanctions relief without democratic changes in Belarus.
She also held meetings with Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and NATO Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Boris Ruge.