Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Calls for European Support for Democratic Belarus at EU Summit

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus, spoke at the summit of speakers of the EU parliaments in Mallorca, Spain on April 22, 2024. In her speech, Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that Belarusians want to be part of Europe, not the "Russian world."

Tsikhanouskaya called on the participants to support the European initiative for Belarus. She stressed that Belarusians are fighting for their freedom, democracy, and a European future, while being held hostage by the authoritarian leaders Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, who aim to restore an "empire of evil" and dismantle the democratic world.

The Belarusian opposition leader believes that the parliaments of different countries can influence the situation in Belarus. She urged them to make statements, organize hearings, and create groups to support democratic Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya also said that a memorandum with the European Parliament is planned to be signed next week, as simple solutions are not sufficient in the current challenging time.

Why this matters: The ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights in Belarus has significant implications for the broader European region. The outcome of this conflict will shape the future political landscape and the balance between democratic and authoritarian forces in Eastern Europe.

Tsikhanouskaya's visit to Ottawa and her speech at the EU parliamentary speakers summit come as Canada announced further sanctions against Belarus. The Canadian government has listed an additional 21 individuals, including current and former senior government officials involved in human rights abuses and the prosecution of Belarusian protesters following the disputed 2020 presidential election. These sanctions, coordinated with the European Union and the United States, impose a dealings prohibition on the listed individuals, effectively freezing any assets they hold in Canada.

"Lukashenko and Putin are criminals," Tsikhanouskaya stated emphatically. "Belarus is part of Europe, not Russia." She called on the European MPs to show in practice that they recognize a democratic Belarus, not the illegitimate regime in Minsk. Tsikhanouskaya also invited the parliamentary speakers to become symbolic godparents for Belarusian political prisoners and help Ukraine win the war, which she described as a common fight for freedom.

Key Takeaways

• Tsikhanouskaya calls for EU support for democratic Belarus, not "Russian world"
• Belarusians fighting for freedom, democracy, and European future, held hostage by Lukashenko and Putin
• Tsikhanouskaya urges parliaments to support democratic Belarus through statements, hearings, and groups
• Canada imposes additional sanctions on Belarus, targeting individuals involved in human rights abuses
• Tsikhanouskaya invites EU MPs to become symbolic godparents for Belarusian political prisoners