Belarus’ opposition in Vilnius confirms Tsikhanouskaya as leader until democratic election

VILNIUS – Representatives of the Belarusian civil society and the opposition, meeting in Vilnius over the weekend, confirmed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as their leader until democratic elections are held in their country.

“Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya won the 2020 presidential election and will serve as the National Leader until a free and fair election is held in Belarus or until she decides to cease her activities as the National Leader,” the document approved by the New Belarus Conference 2024 said.

The document also sets outs the functions, interactions, activities, objectives, etc. of Tsikhanouskaya, her office, the Coordination Council and other institutions established by Belarusians living abroad.

The opposition representatives stated in Vilnius that the presidential elections to be held in Belarus next year would be a mere imitation.

“Due to widespread repression, Belarusians will not be able to see democratic candidates on the ballots, participate in rallies, or engage in campaigning. This is be even less resemblant of a free and democratic election than ever before in Belarus,” the document adopted by the conference said.

Representatives of civil society and the opposition, human rights defenders and journalists, meeting for two days in Vilnius, condemned the crimes of Alexander Lukashenko’s regime and demanded accountability, the release of political prisoners, an end to repression, and freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.

The participants expressed their support for the sanctions imposed by the West on the Lukashenko regime, but called for measures that do not discriminate against ordinary Belarusians.

“We call on our partners to make sure the restrictive measures against the Lukashenko regime are not discriminatory towards Belarusians and do not limit the mobility rights of Belarusians, as well as to facilitate the legalization of stay for Belarusians in exile,” according to a declaration on foreign policy priorities for a democratic Belarus.

Lithuania and other neighbors of Belarus have tightened the procedure for issuing residence permits to Belarusian citizens, closed some border crossings and introduced other restrictions.

Vilnius hosted the third conference of Belarusian democratic forces last weekend. Last year it was held in Warsaw.

The event took place four years after the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya, the only independent candidate, was allowed to take part in the elections after her husband, who was standing for election, was arrested.

Mass protests erupted in Belarus after Lukashenko, the authoritarian leader who has ruled the country since 1994, was declared the winner of the August 9, 2020 presidential election, which were not recognized by the opposition and Western countries as free and fair.

Belarus' authorities cracked down harshly on the 2020 protests, with more than 35,000 people detained by the police and thousands of protesters saying they were subjected to violence.

Lukashenko is not considered by the Belarusian opposition and Western countries to be the country's legitimately elected leader and sanctions have been imposed on the Minsk regime.