Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg during her working visit. The meeting was attended by foreign ministers of 46 member states of the organisation.
In her remarks, the politician thanked the Council of Europe for its principled position, including the suspension of cooperation with the regime and support for the country’s democratic forces. She noted that the establishment of a Contact Group for engagement with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society had become an example for other international institutions.
Tsikhanouskaya separately highlighted the role of Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, who was awarded the Cross of Good Neighbourliness by the United Transitional Cabinet for his contribution to developing cooperation with a democratic Belarus.
Marking the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale war, Tsikhanouskaya said that Ukraine is fighting not only for itself but for all of Europe, including Belarus. According to her, a free and strong Ukraine will also open the path to democratic transformation in Belarus.
“Like Ukrainians, we Belarusians want to see our country as a democratic, independent part of the European family, not of the ‘Russian world’. As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week, Europe is the best future for both Ukraine and Belarus. We share the same values and are fighting for a common future. This path is not easy, but I am confident that with allies like you, we will overcome all challenges,” the leader of the democratic forces said.
