“Belarus and Ukraine are at the frontline of the global fight against tyranny”, declared Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, leader of the Belarusian opposition, at a press briefing on Wednesday 6 November on the sidelines of the “World Democracy Forum” being held at the Council of Europe until 8 November.
After praising the many Belarusian journalists present for their “bravery” and “incredible work”, the opponent of Alexander Lukashenko’s regime made it clear that she had come to ask for support for civil society and the media in her country, as well as “help for the hundreds of thousands of Belarusians living in exile, who face unprecedented challenges with legalization, passports, visas, and even access to the job market and healthcare”.
“It’s crucial that Belarus remains on the agenda and is not handed to Putin as a consolation prize”.
In her view, the Council of Europe is a “crucial ally and partner” of the Belarusian opposition and a “first step on the path to European integration”.
The first concrete expression of this privileged partnership is the “Contact Group” created in September 2022 and now associated with the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation.
This structure has made it possible to set up training courses, seminars and consultations for independent journalists, rights defenders and youth leaders, and should soon benefit from the opening of a Council of Europe information point in Vilnius, announced Ms Tikhanovskaya.
“Our ambition is to obtain Observer status for democratic Belarus within the Council of Europe, even before democratic change”, she added.
Referring to the “so-called” Belarusian presidential election announced for 26 January 2025, she once again described it as a “farce” and called on the Council of Europe to “reject” it.
As for the election of Donald Trump, Ms Tikhanovskaya welcomed it, hoping that “America’s commitment to a democratic Belarus and a free Ukraine remains strong”.
“A free Belarus and Ukraine are central to European stability and security”, she concluded. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)