As the focus turns to the conflict in Ukraine, Belarusian political opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called on Wednesday 12 October in front of the media and Thursday 13 October in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs not to forget her country.
“Belarus should also be on the agenda”, she argued, saying her country was part of the Ukrainian crisis. Thus, according to the opponent, “the situation has become dramatic, (Russian and Belarusian leaders) Putin and Lukashenko have raised the stakes, they are trying to increase and legalise the constant deployment of Russian troops on Belarusian territory, this is an occupation”.
Ms Tikhanovskaya called on Europeans to help, saying that Belarusians were facing an “enemy that denies the very existence of our country as a free and independent nation”. “Lukashenko has done the will of his master, Putin, and he has lost control of our military situation in the country”, she deplored.
The political opponent said that her country should stop participating in any way in the war, that all Russian soldiers should leave the territory of Belarus and that those involved in the war should be held accountable. According to Ms Tikhanovskaya, if Belarusian soldiers were sent to Ukraine, they would not fight on the side of Russia, but would desert or side with the Ukrainians.
The opponent also said she was convinced that a free Belarus would be “the largest sanction against Putin”. “To support a free Ukraine, we need a secure border with a free Belarus that will no longer be a colony of Russia”, she justified, also calling for additional sanctions against the Lukashenko regime. “We must continue to remind Lukashenko that he will pay a high price if he continues to support Russia”, she said.
Ms Tikhanovskaya called on Europeans to work with the democratic opposition. “Recognise our united transitional ministerial cabinet that truly represents the people. We are ready to cooperate and implement joint projects in the framework of the Eastern Partnership”, she explained, recalling that the cabinet already had such a partnership with the Council of Europe. “Help us to show that Belarusians are welcome in Europe, help us to draft a new democratic constitution and prepare a reform package”, she added, hoping that the Belarusian population could benefit from visas to come to the EU.
Ms Tikhanovskaya also returned to the situation of the 1,350 political prisoners in her country, calling on MEPs to keep this issue high on the agenda. “Without pressure, these political prisoners will not be released; make sure it is talked about everywhere”, she pleaded.
The role of Belarus in supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be debated by MEPs in plenary session on Wednesday 19 October. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)