Cichanoŭskaja discusses potential US visit with State Department official

January 31, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robin Dunnigan met in Vilnius on January 30 to discuss Cichanoŭskaja’s visit to Washington, D.C., expected in the spring of 2023.

Cichanoŭskaja received an invitation to speak at “a democracy summit organized by President Joe Biden,” the Belarusian politician’s office told BPN. She may have “high-level meetings with representatives of the US government” during the visit.

Cichanoŭskaja told Dunnigan about “political prisoners, prison conditions, the latest trials, and the persecution of journalists and activists.” The Belarusian politician also shared her view on “Belarusian troops’ possible entry into the war against Ukraine,” noting that “it is a priority for the democratic forces to prevent it.”

The US diplomat reportedly assured Cichanoŭskaja of “unequivocal support for the Belarusian democratic forces” and announced the appointment of a special envoy for Belarus who will work with its democratic movement.

During the meeting, they also discussed designing a new “proactive” strategy for Belarus and the prospects for an “intergovernmental meeting of partner countries supporting the democratic forces.”

The office said the new strategy “could include measures to protect the independence of Belarus, get Russian troops out of it, further isolate the [Alaksandr] Łukašenka regime and support democratic change.”

In addition, Cichanoŭskaja and Dunnigan discussed “joint action to prevent the regime from joining the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member,” and touched on the Belarusian opposition’s participation in the UN General Assembly and G7 events.

Earlier today, the US Embassy in Minsk reported that Dunnigan assured Cichanoŭskaja that the US support for Belarus’ democracy and sovereignty “remains as strong as ever.”