{"id":186674,"date":"2026-05-07T16:39:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/186674\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T16:39:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:39:19","slug":"cichanouskaja-camp-discusses-support-for-political-prisoners-and-emigrants-with-eu-officials","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/186674\/","title":{"rendered":"Cichano\u016dskaja camp discusses support for political prisoners and emigrants with EU officials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 7, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Representatives of Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja and the European Commission\u2019s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) discussed politically motivated persecution in Belarus and support for Belarusian political prisoners and political emigrants at a meeting in Vilnius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participating in the meeting were the European Commision\u2019s Micha\u0142 J\u00f3\u017awiak and Colombe de Mercey and the opposition\u2019s social policy chief Volha Zazulinskaja and deputy chief Julija Mickievi\u010d, according to the opposition cabinet\u2019s press office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They reportedly discussed the \u201ctransnational\u201d nature of the \u0141uka\u0161enka regime\u2019s repression, the expiration of the passports of Belarusians abroad, possible new risks for Belarusians in the event of a broader military conflict in the region, as well as forthcoming elections for the opposition Coordination Council and interaction between the United Transitional Cabinet, the Office of \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja and the Coordination Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zazulinskaja raised the issue of \u201clong-term support\u201d for people without proper access to national social security systems, including \u201cBelarusians in forced emigration, former political prisoners, veterans of the Ukraine war, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, families with special-needs children, women, and LGBTQ+ persons,\u201d the press office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Zazulinskaja, the opposition cabinet\u2019s representatives emphasized the need for \u201cnot only targeted support but also a systemic mechanism\u201d that would allow such individuals to access social programs in the countries of their residence, including Poland and Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mickievi\u010d added that participants discussed the evolution of Belarus\u2019 repressive system, including \u201cnew forms of torture.\u201d The EU officials were told about political prisoners unable to reunite with their children because of restrictions on parental rights imposed on them while behind bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was important for us to hear that talks are under way with the American side at the EU level, in particular with those who are involved in the dialogue with the regime, and that our European partners continue to convey information about such stories [to decision-makers],\u201d Mickievi\u010d was quoted as saying. According to her, Europe continues to demand that released political prisoners should not be subjected to forced deportation and deprived of all documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood was established on February 1, 2025, to oversee EU accession negotiations with candidate countries and manage relations with Eastern Neighbourhood partners. It replaced the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) to provide renewed focus on EU expansion and strategic regional partnerships. DG ENEST\u2019s priorities include supporting reforms, strengthening democratic institutions and managing EU integration projects across candidate and partner countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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