November 16, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition activists have attended the Ostroźkykh Forum in Kyiv to discuss refining pro-democracy forces’ strategy to liberate Belarus from Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime, according to the United Transitional Cabinet (UTC).
The delegation included the UTC’s security chief Vadzim Kabančuk and chief of staff Valer Mackievič, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s adviser Franak Viačorka and Coordination Council speaker Anžalika Melnikava.
The forum participants discussed a common position and a plan for the Belarusian pro-democracy forces’ cooperation with Ukraine, as well as responses to the deployment of Russian troops and nuclear weapons in Belarus and an upcoming Belarusian-Russian military exercise.
The forum also touched on the military education of Belarusian officers in a future democratic Belarus, the rehabilitation of Belarusian volunteer fighters in Ukraine and support for the Belarusian diaspora.
Speaking about the upcoming presidential election in his country, Kabančuk explained why the pro-democracy forces have not nominated a candidate.
“Exit polls, opinion polls and even independent election observation are banned in Belarus,” he said. “There are no available forms of real public control. And most importantly, who would take responsibility for the 100,000 people who would sign for a democratic candidate? The nomination lists would be immediately sent to the KGB.”
He underscored that reprisals target even those who signed for presidential hopefuls in 2020, not only their campaign members.
