{"id":192431,"date":"2026-06-18T16:24:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/192431\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T16:26:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:26:22","slug":"cichanouskaja-meets-with-eu-foreign-policy-chief-in-brussels","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/192431\/","title":{"rendered":"Cichano\u016dskaja meets with EU foreign policy chief in Brussels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Cichano\u016dskaja's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 18, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>\u015aviatlana Cichano\u016dskaja met with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Brussels on June 17 to urge the bloc to \u201cclose loopholes\u201d that allow Minsk to circumvent international sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian politician stressed that a sanctions relief would be only possible after \u201cirreversible changes\u201d in the regime\u2019s repressive policy, noting that repression has intensified and taken new forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja appealed to Kallas to support Belarus\u2019 free media, advocacy groups, repression victims, cultural figures and democratic institutions and work toward greater mobility for Belarusians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in Brussels, the politician took part in events hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She discussed new mechanisms of institutional cooperation with Seamus Boland, president of the EESC, her aide Franak Via\u010dorka told Pozirk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja reportedly suggested that the EESC should establish an advisory or working group on Belarus that could serve as a permanent platform for cooperation with Belarusian civil society organizations. She noted that, uniquely, Belarus\u2019 civil society is largely in exile abroad, and special mechanisms are required to enable its cooperation with European institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja and Boland discussed potential joint campaigns in support of Belarusian trade unions and political prisoners, Via\u010dorka said. Cichano\u016dskaja noted that all independent unions in the country had been dissolved. Their leaders were imprisoned following the 2020 post-election protests and have started been released only in September 2025 as a result of Washington\u2019s talks with Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja called for expanding training programs for Belarusian students and young professionals, supporting independent media, organizing cultural and educational events, carrying out joint campaigns against disinformation and putting Belarus higher on the agenda of European discussions on security, democracy and the future of Europe, Via\u010dorka said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am very grateful to the EESC for seeing Belarus not as a problem but as a future partner,\u201d Cichano\u016dskaja was quoted as saying after the meeting. \u201cWhile the regime tries to isolate Belarusians from Europe, we must build new bridges. It is people \u2014 civil society, independent trade unions, journalists and cultural figures \u2014 who will form the foundation of a new democratic Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Via\u010dorka noted that Cichano\u016dskaja delivered a speech at the EESC plenary session and took part in a separate panel discussion on Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EESC is an EU advisory body that brings together employers, trade unions and civil society organizations to issue opinions on EU legislation and policies. It acts as an institutional bridge between EU decision-makers and organized civil society, ensuring that social, economic and civic perspectives are reflected in EU policy-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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