Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at parliamentary hearings in Canada devoted to the human rights situation.
“Belarus is a vivid example of what happens when democracy is neglected. It shows how interconnected security and democracy are. Authorities that do not respect their own people will not respect their neighbors either.”
As reported by Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, she spoke about mass repression and Belarus’ transformation into a platform for Russian aggression. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that despite the release of some political prisoners, repression in the country has not stopped.
Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Canadian government and parliament with the following proposals:
- continue pressure on the regime: maintain a firm position and seek the release of all political prisoners and an end to repression;
- continue and increase support for Belarusian civil society, democratic forces, cultural initiatives and independent media; Canada could also support the International Humanitarian Fund;
- support efforts to hold the regime accountable not only for repression, but also for complicity in Russia’s war and the deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus;
- help Belarusians in Canada by creating simplified legalization mechanisms and banning extradition to Belarus;
- help raise the issue of transnational repression in the UN and OSCE so that dictators do not abuse international mechanisms, including Interpol, for political persecution;
- strengthen relations with Belarusian democratic forces and the United Transitional Cabinet.
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