Swedish foreign minister to prioritize support for Belarus during EU presidency in 2023

December 6, BPN. Support for Belarus will be a priority for Sweden as it takes over the presidency of the European Council in January 2023, Tobias Billström, the Swedish foreign minister, told Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Cichanoŭskaja at their December 5 meeting.

Cichanoŭskaja urged Sweden to unfreeze aid to Belarus, reduced after 2020, and to support people persecuted on political grounds, her foreign policy adviser Franak Viačorka told BPN.

The Belarusian politician also discussed efforts to prevent Belarusian troops from joining Russia’s war on Ukraine and hold Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime accountable for human rights abuses.

Cichanoŭskaja noted consistent Swedish support for Belarus. “I’m glad new Swedish government continues this commitment,” she tweeted.

Belarusian politician also discussed international protection for those fleeing Belarus in fear of persecution with Maria Stenergard, minister for migration. Noting that only three percent of Belarusians’ applications for political asylum are granted, she suggested creating a working group on migration with the participation of Swedish Belarusians, Viačorka said.

As a part of her visit, Cichanoŭskaja met with Belarusians, as well as experts at an event hosted by the Stockholm Free World Forum. She also paid tribute to Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust.