Tsikhanouskaya Hands NATO PA President BELPOL Report on Belarus’ Militarisation

Reform.news Editorial Team · 13 October 2026, 10:24

https://reform.news/en/tsikhanouskaya-hands-nato-pa-president-belpol-report-on-belarus-militarisation/

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and Vice-President of the Portuguese Parliament, Marcos Perestrello, as well as NATO PA Secretary General Benedetta Berti, on the sidelines of the Warsaw Security Forum.

Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly were handed a report on Belarus’ militarisation prepared by BELPOL, an initiative formed by former Belarusian law enforcement officers. The report was presented in Warsaw yesterday.

“Systemic democratic changes in Belarus are necessary for long-term security in the region. Our country must stop being a source of threat to Ukraine, our neighbours and NATO countries.

It is important to continue and strengthen sanctions against Belarus’ military-industrial complex and enterprises that help Russia wage war against Ukraine. At the same time, we must remember that many Belarusians oppose the war, support Ukraine and face repression for doing so. It is very important to distinguish the Belarusian people from Lukashenka’s regime and support those fighting for a free and democratic Belarus,” Tsikhanouskaya stressed.

The meeting focused on the security situation in the region, the release of political prisoners, expanding cooperation between Belarusian democratic forces and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and pressure on Belarus’ military-industrial complex and enterprises supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also briefed the participants on cooperation between Belarusian democratic forces and the parliamentary assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, as well as the Nordic Council.