UNGA Side Event: The Threat to Belarus’ Independence and the International Response

The Lukashenko regime has become an accomplice in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and a growing threat to international peace and security. Doing so, it has undermined Belarus’ sovereignty and independence. The regime has been permitting Russia to use the Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine, as a launchpad for its missiles. It is granting Moscow full political and logistical support, and it is participating in Russia’s unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children and other civilians. The recent deployment in Belarus of the Wagner mercenaries and the announced transfer of Russian nuclear warheads to Belarus also have destabilizing effects on the region and further undermine Belarus’ sovereignty.

In return for his position, Lukashenko has granted Russia a final say in foreign policy, national defence, information security, economy and finance, ideology and national identity. Russia is absorbing more and more parts of the Belarusian economy. The alignment is also increasing along cultural and linguistic lines: the regime demonstrates a favourable approach to the “Russkiy Mir” (“Russian world”) ideology, and the use of the Belarusian language is de facto being increasingly restricted and repressed (even though Belarus officially remains one of two state languages).

Objectives 

In his statement on behalf of the EU on the third anniversary of the fraudulent presidential elections, EU High Representative Josep Borrell underlined that “the EU will stand with Belarusians as long as it takes on their path to an independent, democratic, and prosperous country as part of a peaceful Europe”.

The side event will be an opportunity to review the efforts and challenges faced by Belarusian people in their efforts to defend their countries’ independence, and outline the role of the international community.

During the side event, Sviatlana Tsiakhnouskaya, Representative of the Belarusian opposition, will speak about the ways Russia has aggressively increased its control over Belarus, will review the steps of democratic forces to preserve its independence, and what national governments and international organisations can do to help restore Belarus’ sovereignty and rebuild its democratic institutions.

Agenda

12:00-12.10     Welcome and opening remarks by Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service

12:10-12.20    Remarks by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Representative of the Belarusian opposition

11:20-11.30     Remarks by co-hosts

11:30-11.55    Comments and discussion by participants

11:55-12.00    Closing remarks