{"id":172175,"date":"2026-01-19T13:15:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T10:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/172175\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"kalesnikava-says-ready-to-engage-with-pragmatic-lukasenka","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/172175\/","title":{"rendered":"Kale\u015bnikava says ready to engage with \u201cpragmatic\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

January 19,<\/strong> Pozirk.<\/strong><\/em> Opposition politician Maryja Kale\u015bnikava, freed last month after five years in a Belarusian prison, called for Europe to engage with the regime that jailed her, or risk pushing the country closer to Moscow, FT<\/em> reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe greater Belarus\u2019s isolation from Europe, the more it is forced closer to Russia,\u201d she said in an interview in Berlin. \u201cThis makes Belarus less safe and less predictable for Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs someone with a European mindset, I do not understand why Europe did not start talking to [Alaksandar] \u0141uka\u0161enka before the US.\u201d Kale\u015bnikava said. \u201cIt is obvious that Germany, for example, has far more ties with Belarus than the states.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her argument runs counter to Europe\u2019s approach of keeping links with Belarusian democratic forces in exile, freezing contacts with the regime and maintaining economic sanctions on exports, a ban on flights and tighter visa rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She described the Belarusian strongman as a pragmatic person. \u201cHe understands the language of business. If he is ready for humanitarian steps in response to a relaxation of sanctions, including the release of prisoners and allowing independent media and NGOs into Belarus, this needs to be discussed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promoting this kind of dialogue \u2014 particularly aimed at securing the release of other political prisoners and preventing further repression \u2014 is now her focus. \u201cI think it\u2019s clear that I\u2019m not leaving politics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all, \u0141uka\u0161enka released 123 prisoners, mostly his political opponents, on December 13 in a deal with Washington. Most of them were taken to Poland via Ukraine, while some 20 people went to Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany invited former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka and his ex-campaign manager Kale\u015bnikava and to stay in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kale\u015bnikava had lived in Germany from 2007 to 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Belarus\u2019 pro-democracy forces plan to open mission in Spain<\/h3>\n
January 19, Pozirk. Dzianis Ku\u010dynski met with Diego Martinez Belio, Span\u2019s state secretary for foreign affairs, in Madrid last week to discuss issues facing Belarusians living in the country. In particular, the Belarusian opposition politician asked Madrid to recognize the …<\/div>\n \n