Lukashenko is an enemy. And an enemy must be defeated

Theses of the speech by the Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Pavel Latushka, at the Belarusian-Ukrainian Ostrogski Forum in Kyiv

Short version

This is my first time participating in the Ostrogski Forum; thank you very much for giving me such an opportunity. Today I speak on behalf of the United Transitional Cabinet, my team, and the group of experts, the National Anti-Crisis Management, which primarily deals with issues of legal prosecution of the Lukashenko regime. Also as the leader of the largest faction in the Coordination Council, which received the greatest number of votes in the last direct elections.

Dear participants of the Forum! Ladies and gentlemen!

I would like to begin with a question: is Belarus at war?I will answer, unfortunately, in the affirmative. Belarus is in a double war — the war of the Lukashenko regime against Ukraine, and his war against Belarusians.

Belarus is not an enemy of Ukraine. The Lukashenko regime is.

But it is important that our discussion is also not built on illusions. And therefore I suggest we begin with an honest answer to the question: Who is Alexander Lukashenko?He is an enemy of Belarus, of Belarusians, and of Ukraine — our common enemy.

We must abandon the illusion that Lukashenko is a "hostage of the Kremlin".This is a dangerous self-deception.

Lukashenko is an enemy. And an enemy must be defeated.

Another illusion: that Lukashenko “should not be irritated.”But the "bear", Russia, already used Belarusian territory to attack Ukraine in 2022.

Lukashenko is not a bear. He is the bear’s henchman — and he is weak.He is weak because he lacks public support, is vulnerable to sanctions, and his power is constantly threatened.

To defeat Lukashenko means to change the political situation in Belarus.

And this fully corresponds to Ukraine’s interests, because:a democratic Belarus will never pose a threat to Ukraine.

How to achieve this?

Support Belarus’s allies — political institutions that are a real alternative to the regime:the United Transitional Cabinet and the elected Coordination Council.

We have always supported Ukraine — sanctions, harmonization of sanctions, accountability of Lukashenko.

I initiated in PACE an amendment about Lukashenko’s responsibility for the act of aggression — providing Belarusian territory for aggression.

We are launching a project to document the crime of aggression committed by the top military-political leadership of the Lukashenko regime for use in the Special Tribunal.

Our team submitted materials to the ICC on illegal deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children in Belarus— a war crime.

Lithuania has already submitted to the ICC a case regarding crimes against humanity in Belarus.Ukraine has every legal basis to support this.

We appeal to the Government of Ukraine to support Belarusian democratic forces and Lithuania — and thus strike our common enemy.

Next: economic sanctions — a critical tool.Sanctions against Lukashenko must be harmonized with sanctions against Russia.

Pressure must continue and intensify.

Everything listed creates conditions for political change in Belarus — and therefore for removing the military threat that Belarus poses today.

Lukashenko is actively preparing Belarus for war, including:– integration of over 500 Belarusian enterprises into the Russian military-industrial complex,– modernization of infrastructure for deployment of Russian forces,– legalizing aggression and "pre-emptive strikes",– creation of a 150,000-strong militia and expansion of the army,– mass repression: elimination of media and NGOs, 1,200 political prisoners, 600,000 Belarusians forced to flee.

Not counteracting this is a strategic mistake.

Our struggle to dismantle the regime is a direct precondition for peace.

Ukraine’s sustainable security is impossible without resolving the internal Belarusian crisis.

Will Lukashenko change his policy? No.Therefore, international isolation and sanctions pressure must be maintained and strengthened.

The alternative is capitulation to Lukashenko.

Only a democratic, European, demilitarized Belarus can be a reliable strategic partner for Ukraine.The Lukashenko regime never will.

Lukashenko is an enemy of Ukraine. Belarus is a potential ally and guarantor of security.

Zelensky said:"At some point, a boundary will emerge between war and peace… the Ukrainian eastern border, the Belarusian eastern border, the eastern borders of the Baltic states, and the eastern border of Finland — this is the strongest security border for all of us in Europe".

Thank you for your attention.

Long live Belarus! Glory to Ukraine!

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