May 6, Pozirk. Belarus’ opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja urged Armenian nonprofit leaders to strengthen ties with their Belarusian counterparts during a roundtable in Yerevan on May 5.
She pointed out that the unresolved safety issue remains a major obstacle. “As long as Armenia remains a member of the CIS [the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States], there is the risk of extradition [because of the CIS common database of wanted persons],” she said.
Armenia have detained a number of Belarusian activists at the border in the last several years, but human rights defenders have so far managed to secure their release.
Cichanoŭskaja urged Yerevan to terminate cooperation with Minsk, both with the government of Alaksandar Łukašenka and his security services.
She said that Armenia and Belarus should “stop living in the shadow of the empires and become part of the European family of nations.”
She also noted that she envies Armenians because they can choose their leaders in free elections.
“I want our peoples to be friends, engage in trade and support each other so that no Łukašenka could disrupt it,” she said.
Cichanoŭskaja, who took part in a European summit in Yerevan, pointed out that she “dreams of a day when Belarus hosts so many European and world leaders. This is a matter of independence, self-determination and recognition.”
Cichanoŭskaja said she was impressed to discover Armenia as a free European country, a country one can be proud of. “I was especially impressed by the development of the private sector and small businesses, something that makes this country really strong.”
The event was co-hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Armenia’s Democracy Development Foundation.
While in Yerevan on May 4 and 5, Cichanoŭskaja took part in the European Political Community Summit and met with politicians, civil society activists and journalists.
