The leader of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Cichanovská is in Prague for a series of key negotiations. He deals with the Czech political elite to support the Belarusians’ fight for freedom.
The leader of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Cichanovská is on a working visit to Prague, where she will attend a series of political and public meetings. The TASR reporter in the Czech capital reported on her program. On Wednesday, she held talks with Czech President Petr Pavlo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka, and also visited the upper chamber of the Czech Parliament.
According to TASR, President Pavel emphasized that Cichanovská has been confirming for six years that even harsh repression and life in exile cannot break the Belarusian population’s desire for freedom. He informed that he and the leader of the opposition discussed current developments in Belarus, the possibilities of supporting democratic forces and how to counter Russia’s efforts to use Belarus for an aggressive policy towards the environment. At the same time, he appreciated that in Czech politics there has long been a consensus across governments in support of the Belarusian opposition.
Agreement in Prague
According to TASR, the head of Czech diplomacy, Petr Macinka, recalled the historical experience of the Czechs with the communist regime and life in unfreedom. He stated that this is also why the Czech Republic stands on the side of those who strive for a free and democratic Belarus. After the negotiations with Cichanovská, he emphasized that he is always a welcome guest in Prague.
Cichanovská thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the entire Czech Republic for the principled attitude towards the regime in Minsk, for the support of democratic forces and solidarity with Belarusians who are facing repression. According to TASR, she said that she and Macink also talked about the security situation in the region and the need to prevent Belarus from being drawn deeper into Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Support and exile
The discussion also focused on efforts to release political prisoners and the issue of responsibility for the crimes of the Belarusian regime. According to TASR, Cichanovská wrote on the X social network that the Czech minister assured her of the unchanging Czech support for Belarus and that Belarusians can continue to rely on Prague.
During her stay in the Czech capital, the leader of the Belarusian opposition plans to meet with representatives of the Belarusian diaspora in the Czech Republic. On Thursday, in the Václav Havel Library, he is to discuss with the public the internal political situation in Belarus and the relations between Belarus and Ukraine.
