Opposition leader urges Ireland to help Belarusian political prisoners

February 19, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja discussed support for Belarusian civil society with Ireland’s Foreign Minister Micheál Martin, her aide Franak Viačorka told BPN.

Both politicians met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on February 18. 

Cichanoŭskaja thanked Ireland for its active position on Belarus and for not recognizing Alaksandr Łukašenka as president, urging it to support initiatives for political prisoners and projects on strengthening the national identity.

She also asked Martin to assist the Contact Group on Belarus in the Council of Europe, as well as Belarus-related projects of the Irish Embassy in Vilnius, Viačorka said.

Work is now underway to lift visa restrictions for Belarusians introduced after the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, he added.