Belarusian pro-democracy forces launch strategic discussions with UK government

March 20, Pozirk. The UK government is to launch strategic consultations tomorrow with Belarus’ pro-democracy forces, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s chief adviser Franak Viačorka has told Pozirk.

A decision to that effect was made after today’s meeting between Cichanoŭskaja and Stephen Doughty, the British minister of state for Europe.

Viačorka said the discussions will focus on politics and human rights; culture and the diaspora; and media and countering propaganda.”

“We are grateful to the United Kingdom for supporting the Belarusian people. These consultations will strengthen our cooperation and ensure that Belarus remains on the international agenda. Together, we will continue our fight for a free and democratic Belarus,” Cichanoŭskaja said.

The Belarusian pro-democracy forces are already engaged in a strategic dialogue with the United States, strategic consultations with Canada, and a joint advisory group with the European Union.

Meanwhile, the UK Parliament had formed a group For a Democratic Belarus Viačorka said, noting that it will be an additional platform strengthening British support for the Belarusian movement.

The group is headed by Conservative MP Wendy Morton, the shadow minister for foreign affairs. In the previous Parliament, a similar group was headed by Labour MP Tony Lloyd who died in January 2024.; parliamentary elections were held in July of that year).

On March 4, Cichanoŭskaja’s adviser on constitutional reform and parliamentary cooperation, Anatol Labiedźka, told Pozirk that the inter-parliamentary alliance For a Democratic Belarus includes around two dozen parliamentary groups.

The number changes depending on elections. When a nation elects a new parliament, it establishes a new group.

Also read: Strategic dialogue between Belarusian pro-democracy forces and United States