April 6, Pozirk. US officials and Belarusian opposition members met in Washington on April 4 and 5 in a working group format within the bilateral strategic dialogue to discuss the human rights in Belarus and pro-democracy forces’ activities.
Set up as a platform for permanent contact between the Belarusian opposition and the US, the strategic dialogue was launched in December 2023 as an annual event.
Valer Kavaleŭski, foreign affairs chief at the opposition transition cabinet, described it as “a unique mechanism” that secures US attention to Belarus.
Recent discussions focused on Russian threats to Belarus’ independence, Western sanctions, the use of UN mechanisms to highlight Belarusian issues and accountability for Alaksandar Łukašenka and his officials, the cabinet’s press office reported.
Strategic dialogue should proceed from discussion of challenges and threats to specific steps to achieve democracy and improve the human rights situation in Belarus, said Pavieł Łatuška, another cabinet member.
He backed the idea of uniform sanctions against Minsk and Moscow, noting that the common economic area set up by Russia and Belarus allows Łukašenka to profit from sanctions, fund reprisals and facilitate the continued aggression against Ukraine.
The politician stressed the need to support independent media and expand opportunities for people-to-people contacts for Belarusians. Simplified visa rules and facilitation of travel would support pro-European sentiment in Belarus, he noted.
