Pavel Latushka at the Economic Forum in Karpacz: on repression in Belarus and the release of Andrzej Poczobut
Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the NAM, together with NAM representatives, has begun work at the 35th Economic Forum in Karpacz. More than 6,000 guests from 53 countries are expected to take part in the forum, and more than 500 panel discussions will be held.
On 9 September, Pavel Latushka will speak at the panel discussion "Through confrontation to coexistence: what is the West's strategy towards Russia?".
On 9 September, the Speaker of the Coordination Council, Artsiom Brukhan, will speak at the panel discussion "Central Europe: the strategic role of the region in shaping the security architecture".
On the opening day of the forum, Pavel Latushka gave interviews to leading Polish media: the news channel TVN24, the state news agency, the Polish Press Agency (PAP), and the leading Polish radio station RMF24.
The main question of interest to Polish journalists today is Andrzej Poczobut's return to Belarus.
Pavel Latushka noted that in the eyes of Belarusians and Poles, Andrzej Poczobut is a hero:
"This is truly a strong act by a man who fights for the rights of the Polish minority in Belarus, and he deserves the highest words of respect and support."
At the same time, Pavel Latushka stressed that it is important not to forget about the continuing repression in Belarus. About a thousand political prisoners remain in Belarusian prisons. Lukashenko continues to imprison people for political reasons, and they are forced to leave the country. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who were forced to leave Belarus cannot return home, because they face imprisonment.
Andrzej Poczobut's departure for Belarus became possible thanks to his will and character as a person, as well as to agreements reached by representatives of the United States and Polish diplomacy with the Lukashenko regime.
Pavel Latushka noted that more than 2,000 non-governmental organisations have been liquidated in Belarus and cannot operate in the country because they have been stripped of their legal status. He also pointed out that in recent years more than 100 people have been detained upon returning from Poland to Belarus and subsequently sentenced to many years in prison.
"Lukashenko will try to use this situation to sell the false thesis that he supposedly wants to normalise relations with the EU and the US. However, if he truly wants normalisation of relations, he must change the domestic political situation in the country, which would allow all Belarusians who were forced to leave the country to return to their homeland freely,"said Pavel Latushka.
The National Anti-Crisis Management is the official institutional partner of the 35th Economic Forum in Karpacz.
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