{"id":204925,"date":"2026-09-23T18:03:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T15:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/204925\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T18:03:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T15:03:06","slug":"latuska-calls-for-keeping-democratization-on-agenda-babaryka-thanks-polish-fm-for-meeting-with-ryzankou","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/204925\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141atu\u0161ka\u00a0calls for keeping democratization on agenda, Babaryka thanks Polish FM for meeting with\u00a0Ry\u017eanko\u016d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Maksim Ry\u017eanko\u016d and Viktar Babaryka in New York\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Belarus' foreign ministry) <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 23, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>Pavie\u0142 \u0141atu\u0161ka, deputy head of the opposition United Transitional Cabinet, expressed hope that Polish Foreign Minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski had brought up the need for democratization during his meeting with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ry\u017eanko\u016d, while 2020 presidential contender Viktar Babaryka expressed gratitude to Sikorski for holding the meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with Pozirk<\/em>, \u0141atu\u0161ka described the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of UN General Assembly events on Tuesday, as \u201cthe minimal possible level of communication\u201d and warned that there are no preconditions for any working or official visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI really hope that during his meeting with the foreign minister of dictator Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, the foreign minister of Poland, which is a true and consistent friend and partner of democratic Belarus, called for stopping repressions in Belarus, releasing all political prisoners, decriminalizing socio-political life in Belarus and launching an inclusive dialogue with Belarusian society, as outlined in the joint EU stance in the 2024 CouncilConclusions on Belarus,\u201d \u0141atu\u0161ka said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He warned that people continue to be arrested and declared political prisoners even as some imprisoned dissidents are released. Politically motivated persecution in Belarus is not stopping, and state security agencies are seeking to recruit Belarusians in exile, including members of Coordination Council, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141atu\u0161ka also noted that Belarus continues to instrumentalize irregular migrants, who are now targeting Latvia and Lithuania rather than Poland, and to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. \u201cThere are no grounds for changing Poland\u2019s policy toward Belarus,\u201d he stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a post on X, Babaryka thanked Sikorski for meeting with Ry\u017eanko\u016d, \u201ceven in today\u2019s difficult circumstances.\u201d \u201cEvery opportunity for dialogue matters when it can help improve relations for the benefit of the people of Poland and Belarus,\u201d Babaryka said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on the meeting, Sikorski likened the prospects for normalizing bilateral relations to \u201ca snowdrop that can bloom under favorable conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sikorski described the meeting as an initial step, noting that contacts were also taking place between other agencies and at other levels. He said that Poland would soon open a new embassy building in Minsk and was ready to improve relations if Belarus is willing to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The foreign ministers also reportedly discussed issues relating to regional security. When asked whether he had told the Belarusian side not to allow Russia to launch drones and missiles from Belarusian territory, Sikorski replied, \u201camong other things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sikorski noted improvements in the situation along the shared border with Belarus after about a decade without contacts at the ministerial level. He noted the release of many Belarusian political prisoners, including Polish minority activist Andrej Pa\u010dobut (Andrzej Poczobut).The Belarusian foreign ministry commented on X that \u201csnowdrop diplomacy is a nice restart.\u201d \u201cBut we\u2019re in it for the harvest,\u201d the ministry said. \u201cLet\u2019s plant an orchard \u2013 it needs nurturing every year, not once a decade. Minsk is ready to host Belarus and Poland.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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