{"id":206115,"date":"2026-10-03T23:09:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T20:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/206115\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T23:10:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T20:10:21","slug":"europe-must-stay-true-to-its-values-and-not-yield-to-business-interests-cichanouskaja-says","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/206115\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe must stay true to its values and not yield to business interests, Cichano\u016dskaja says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 3, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Belarusian pro-democracy leader Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja urged European countries to remain committed to their values instead of drifting toward pragmatic deals with authoritarian regimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking during a panel discussion<\/a> on Belarus on the sidelines of an international forum on Spain\u2019s La Toja Island on October 3, her interlocutor, former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, noted that the EU had provided about \u20ac200 million to Belarusian pro-democracy forces since 2020 and asked whether Europe can maintain even this \u201cmodest\u201d level of support and resist the temptation to \u201cbuild bridges with the dictator.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja replied the assistance has been vital because, after 2020 all independent media, NGOs, human rights groups and political parties were forced into exile. \u201cWe are a people without a country, while the country is occupied by the regime,\u201d she said. EU and US support has enabled exiled organizations to survive and continue work on human rights, culture, and national identity, she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja acknowledged that some governments may seek a return to \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d with Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka or Russia, but warned that such pragmatism is dangerous. \u201cWithout values, Russia will quickly split the EU,\u201d she said. \u201cAny lack of confidence is perceived as weakness, and then hybrid attacks begin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja warned that allowing Ukraine to lose the war against Russia or failing to support Belarusians striving to escape Russian domination would leave dictatorships on the EU\u2019s borders. \u201cThen the question will be which EU country is next?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia\u2019s goal, Cichano\u016dskaja said, is to sow doubt and mistrust among Europeans. She warned Europe against abandoning its principles because it does not see \u201csuccesses.\u201d \u201cYou have success and you have power, don\u2019t let dictators convince you otherwise,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja stressed that Europe is \u201cmuch stronger than Russia\u201d and that long\u2011standing perceptions of Russia as an all\u2011powerful state are outdated. \u201cI understand economic and business interests, but now is not the time to submit to them,\u201d she said. \u201cNow is the time to stay faithful to values.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EU countries will now allow Belarusian potash through their territory,\u00a0Cichano\u016dskaja\u00a0says<\/h3>\n
September 23, Pozirk. The European Union's stance on Belarus is firm and principled, and EU countries will not allow Belarusian potash purchased by the United States to pass through their territory, Belarus' pro-democracy leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja told Deutsche Welle.  Cichano\u016dskaja stressed that "now isn't the time …<\/div>\n \n