{"id":114735,"date":"2024-11-20T21:48:49","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T18:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/114735\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"austria-declares-support-for-vibrant-belarusian-civil-society","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/114735\/","title":{"rendered":"Austria declares support for “vibrant Belarusian civil society”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 20, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> “We support a free, democratic and vibrant Belarusian civil society,” said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg after today’s talks with \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja in Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Good exchange with \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja. Discussed fate of over 1300 political prisoners still incarcerated in Belarus. They must be freed now!” he tweeted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franak Via\u010dorka, the chief adviser to the Belarusian opposition leader, told Pozirk<\/em> that Cichano\u016dskaja thanked Schallenberg for his help with political prisoners, as well as for programs to support Belarusian artists and performers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Cichano\u016dskaja briefed the minister on the latest wave of ‘pardons,’ which has resulted in the release of dozens of political prisoners in recent weeks. She noted that any release of political prisoners should be welcomed, but stressed the need to seek an end to repression and incommunicado detentions, and the release of all those unjustly convicted. During the conversation, the possibility of introducing a package of sanctions against those involved in the repression was also raised,” the adviser said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to him, the parties also discussed the political situation in Belarus and preparations for January’s election. “The minister assured her that Austria’s position remains principled and consistent and is in line with the EU’s position: this ‘election’ will be neither free nor fair,” Via\u010dorka said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special attention was paid to possible peace talks on Ukraine and the role of Belarus in them. Cichano\u016dskaja stressed that Belarus should not become a consolation prize for Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Estonia\u2019s FM notes \u201catmosphere of terror\u201d in Belarus ahead of presidential vote<\/h3>\n
November 20, Pozirk. Estonia will not recognize the upcoming presidential vote in Belarus as it is set to take place in an \u201catmosphere of terror,\u201d Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said after meeting Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja in Tallinn …<\/div>\n \n