Фото: t.me/tsikhanouskaya
Diplomatic adviser to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Dzianis Kuchynski, held a working meeting with Poland’s special representative for Belarus, Adam Hałaciński, and Deputy Director of the Eastern Europe Department of the Polish Foreign Ministry, Grzegorz Poznański.
The sides discussed key areas of strategic cooperation between Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Polish Foreign Ministry, as well as joint activities for the current year.
Kuchynski thanked the Polish foreign policy ministry and Poland for supporting the Belarusian democratic movement, showing solidarity and assisting Belarusians who were forced to leave the country.
The meeting also focused on international protection and the growing number of rejections of applications by Belarusian citizens. Tsikhanouskaya’s Office stressed that Poland’s official policy toward Belarusians has not changed. In a significant proportion of cases, rejections are caused by insufficient evidence, a lack of confirmation of individual risks or insufficient substantiation of an application.
Belarusians applying for international protection in Poland are advised to carefully prepare documents and evidence confirming the specific circumstances of their cases. They are encouraged to seek assistance from the Office of the Democratic Forces Leader at legal@tsikhanouskaya.org.
The meeting also addressed joint measures to counter an information campaign by the Belarusian authorities targeting Poland and democratic forces. In particular, the sides discussed the use of historical speculation, manipulation and false information to fuel xenophobia and deepen divisions between Belarusians and Poles.
Kuchynski also briefed Polish diplomats on the Office’s current work in Vilnius and Warsaw.