Cichanoŭskaja asks Finland not to call Belarus “White Russia”

December 13, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has asked Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin to change the former Soviet republic’s name in the Finnish language from “Valko-Venäjä” (White Russia) to “Belarus”.

Cichanoŭskaja and Marin discussed this and other issues in Helsinki on December 13, an advisor to the Belarusian politician, Franak Viačorka, told BPN.

“It’s a symbolic step but a powerful message that Belarus is not Russia,” Cichanoŭskaja told foreign diplomats after the meeting.

She said Marin had assured her that Finland will continue to support the Belarusian democratic movement and advocate for a sovereign Belarus. “I was glad to hear that there is no illusions about [Alaksandr] Łukašenka,” she added.

Sweden swapped its own version of “White Russia” for “Belarus” in 2019, and Norway did the same in 2022.