Representatives of the Belarusian civil society and political opposition met in Vilnius over the weekend and confirmed Sviatlana Tsikhaoukaya as their leader until democratic elections are held in their country.
“Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has won the 2020 presidential elections and will serve as national leader until free and fair elections are held in Belarus or until she decides to end her activity as the country’s leader,” reads a document approved by the New Belarus Conference.
It also sets out the functions, interactions, activities, objectives, etc. of Tsikhanouskaya and her office, the Coordination Council, and other Belarusian organisations abroad.
The opposition representatives in Vilnius stated that the presidential elections to be held in Belarus next year will be an imitation of a legitimate vote.
“Due to the widespread repression, candidates of democratic forces will not be on the ballot papers, will not be able to participate in rallies or campaign. These elections will bear even less resemblance to free and democratic elections than the previous ones,” the adopted document states.
The two-day meeting in Vilnius also condemned the crimes of Alexander Lukashenko’s government and demanded accountability, the release of political prisoners, an end to repression, freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, etc.
Participants at the conference expressed support for Western sanctions against the Belarusian government but called for measures that do not harm against ordinary Belarusians.
“We call on our partners to ensure that the restrictive measures imposed on the Lukashenko regime do not discriminate against ordinary Belarusians, restrict their right of movement, or impede their ability to live legally in exile,” said the declaration on the foreign policy priorities for a democratic Belarus.
Lithuania and Belarus’ other EU neighbours have tightened the procedure for issuing residence permits to Belarusian citizens, closed some border crossings and introduced other restrictions.
This is the third conference of Belarusian democratic forces in Vilnius. Last year it was held in Warsaw.
The event took place four years after the 2020 presidential election where the authoritarian leader Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994, claimed victory. The only independent candidate, Tsikhanouskaya, was allowed to run after her husband, who was standing for election, was arrested.
Mass protests erupted in the country after the results were announced. The Lukashenko regime reacted to the demonstrations with extreme measures and violence. Key opposition figures were imprisoned or forced to leave the country, the editorial offices of independent media outlets were raided and their journalists arrested.
The Belarusian opposition and EU countries do not consider Lukashenko to be the country’s legitimately elected leader, and sanctions have been imposed on the Minsk government after the 2020 crackdown.
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