Maintaining mobility for Belarusians visiting EU countries is essential — Pavel Latushka at a meeting with Grzegorz Schetyna

Cooperation with the democratic forces of Belarus, the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border, and the release of political prisoners were the key topics discussed during the meeting between Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and Head of the People’s Anti-Crisis Administration, and Grzegorz Schetyna, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Sejm and Senate of Poland "For a Free Belarus", held at 11:00 in the Senate of Poland.

During the meeting, the following points were discussed:

• Issues of further cooperation with the Coordination Council as a representative body of Belarusian society;

• The possibility of holding a meeting between the "For a Free Belarus" group and members of the Coordination Council;

• Participation of Coordination Council representatives in an international meeting of MPs from parliamentary groups cooperating with democratic Belarus, to be held in October in Paris.

Grzegorz Schetyna confirmed his willingness and readiness to participate in this meeting as the head of the parliamentary group of the Polish Sejm and Senate "For a Free Belarus".

The meeting also addressed issues related to further steps aimed at the release of political prisoners in Belarus, as well as the potential release of one of the leaders of the Polish minority in Belarus, Andrzej Poczobut.

In light of the growing tensions on the Belarusian-Polish border, Latushka appealed to Grzegorz Schetyna, head of the parliamentary group, to ensure that any possible restrictions announced yesterday by the Polish government do not apply to the passenger movement of Belarusian citizens. Latushka emphasized the importance of maintaining mobility for Belarusians when visiting EU member states.

A special focus during the meeting was placed on the extraterritorial crimes committed by representatives of the Lukashenko regime against members of democratic institutions and initiatives operating on the territory of Poland, and the importance of an international legal response to these crimes by Lukashenko.

Pavel Latushka noted that the Lukashenko regime has intensified its information war and pressure campaign against democratic institutions and activists in the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the 2020 protests, once again highlighting the importance of the existing institutions and civil initiatives working to change the situation in the country.

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