Opposition leader pushes for international coalition in support of democratic Belarus

January 26, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja suggested creating an international coalition in support of a democratic Belarus at her January 25 meeting with the Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, her team told BPN.

She also invited Rau to participate in developing “a proactive strategy for solving the Belarusian crisis and protecting Belarusian independence.”

Together with Pavieł Łatuška of the opposition’s United Transitional Cabinet, Cichanoŭskaja urged Rau to consider ways to bring Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime and its accomplices to justice for reprisals against Belarusians and complicity in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

She also discussed possible sanctions from the International Labor Organization in response to the persecution of workers and trade unions as well as efforts to prevent Minsk from being elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Participants also talked about the Belarusian opposition’s involvement in the Lublin Triangle, a regional alliance of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine promoting political, economic and social cooperation.

Valer Kavaleŭski, of the opposition cabinet, discussed with Polish diplomats the issue of travel documents for people who fled Belarus in fear of persecution.

Cichanoŭskaja also asked Elżbieta Witek, the Polish Sejm speaker, to adopt a resolution on Belarus-related strategies, stressing differences between the regime and ordinary Belarusians as well as demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Belarus and Minsk’s accountability for human rights abuses.