The 4th meeting of the Consultative Group between the European Union and Belarusian democratic forces and civil society took place on 11 December, in Brussels.
The meeting was organised as part of the Belarus Days, a series of events in support of the Belarusian people organised by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European External Action Service in Brussels this week.
The meeting was co-chaired by European External Action Service (EEAS) Managing Director Michael Siebert and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of Belarus’ democratic forces, in the presence of representatives of the EEAS, the European Commission and Belarusian democratic forces and civil society.
The Consultative Group addressed the political situation in Belarus, including the growing repression and deteriorating human rights conditions, the regime’s complicity in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and its instrumentalisation of migration at the EU’s external borders. Participants also discussed Belarus’ increasing dependence on Russia, further undermining its sovereignty.
The upcoming so-called presidential elections in Belarus in January 2025 were also a key focus of the meeting. The EU underscored the need for free, fair, and transparent electoral processes. “Currently, in view of the ongoing repression, conditions for democratic elections are not in place,” the EEAS said in a press release.
The EU also condemned the escalation of detentions and acts of repression in the lead-up to the so-called elections in January and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the nearly 1,300 political prisoners. In cooperation with Belarusian civil society organisations supporting political prisoners and their families, the EEAS organised an exhibition ‘Voices from Prison’ featuring artwork and letters from political prisoners. Each artwork tells a story of a prisoner who, even behind bars, continues to resist.
In the margins of the Consultative Group’s meeting, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The High Representative reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support for Belarus’ democratic future and praised the leadership of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in advancing the cause of a free and independent Belarus.
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Press release