Italian FM pledges to investigate deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus
July 6, BPN. Italy will support an investigation into the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus and complicity of Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime in these crimes, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani promised Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja at their meeting in Rome.
The meeting focused on the European Union’s possible new sanctions against Łukašenka, the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as well as assistance to the Belarusian civil society and independent media, her aide Franak Viačorka told BPN.
Cichanoŭskaja called for international attention to the plight of Belarusian political prisoners, noting that more pressure is needed to secure their release.
The opposition leader suggested using frozen assets of persons linked to the Łukašenka regime to support Belarusian political prisoners citing recent reports that Italy froze an estimated €2 billion in Russian and Belarusian assets.
Tajani promised her that Italy would downgrade its diplomatic presence in Belarus and would not send a new ambassador to Minsk, Viačorka said.
At the same time, Italy will continue to issue visas to Belarusians, support Belarusian students and offer assistance to children since it distinguishes between the regime and ordinary people, Tajani assured Cichanoŭskaja.
The opposition leader invited Italy’s foreign minister to participate in side events on Belarus during the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius and to help organize another side event at the UN General Assembly.
Cichanoŭskaja also urged Italy to declare Łukašenka’s regime a sponsor of terrorism for its support of Russia’s Wagner Group blacklisted as a criminal and terrorist organization.
Earlier, she asked the Italian Senate to assist in setting up a tribunal to ensure Łukašenka’s accountability.
Cichanoŭskaja is on official visit to Italy from July 5 to 7 at the invitation of the Italian parliament and foreign minister.
- PoliticsOpposition leader: right to work must be safeguarded, not abusedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: more than dozen women arrested across BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyGovernment to build 73 dairy farms in three yearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus accredits Mozambique’s first military attachéThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsBelarusian ambassador presents credentials to president of ZimbabweThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPolish court sentences Belarusian to 14 months in prison for cigarette smugglingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLoans to individuals down in Q1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIranian president briefs Łukašenka on Gulf situationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign trade rises by 10 percent in January-FebruaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry adds 35 to list of extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyŁukašenka admits population outflow from rural areasThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights defenders identify 10 more political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyPolish Carmelites welcome release of monk GawełThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsProsecutors send case against exiled pundit Bałkuniec to courtThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka praises UN efforts to address global security risksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus’ net migration growth down one-third since 2019The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics



