Belarusian opposition leader says Ukraine, Moldova deserve EU candidate status

June 18, BPN. Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, former presidential candidate who was forced to flee Belarus in 2020, welcomed the European Commission’s decision to back the European Union (EU) candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova during her visit to Portugal. She also asked the EU Council to keep Belarus in mind when making in its conclusions, AP reported.

On June 17, Cichanoŭskaja along with Pavieł Łatuška, head of the Warsaw-based National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM) and other Belarusian opposition figures sent a joint letter to the EU leadership in support of the EU aspirations of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.

“As the EU is considering the applications from our region, it is the right moment to also recognize and confirm the European perspective for Belarus. This will form the foundation for the conversation and decisions about the forms of engagement between the Belarusian nation and the EU,” the letter reads.

On June 17, the European Commission recommended granting the EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. The final decision will be made at a summit in Brussels on June 23-24.