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Photo: OL On October 23, 2025, the European Union approved a new package of sanctions aimed at the financial system serving the Lukashenka regime. The new 19th EU sanctions package against Russia includes three major Belarusian banks with Russian capital: Alfa-Bank , VTB Bank , and Sber Bank . Earlier, in a letter dated June 6, 2025, to the European External Action Service, we substantiated and requested the imposition of blocking sanctions against banks with Russian capital operating in Belarus that possess financial infrastructure for sanctions evasion. We also submitted an analytical memorandum titled "Opportunities to Reduce the Effectiveness of Russia’s War Economy through Sanctions on the Financial Sector of Belarus" , which provided justification for such measures. On October 11, 2024, we sent a separate letter with similar reasoning to the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and Capital Markets Union  of the European Commission. In our communications, we warned our European partners that Belarusian banks are connected to the Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia (SPFS) , which allows them to circumvent existing restrictions, including those imposed on the Russian banking system. Now, our proposals have been heard. According to the decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union , starting December 2, 2025 , a ban will come into force on all financial and business transactions with Alfa-Bank , Sberbank , and VTB Bank . These banks have been added to Annex XLIV of EU Regulation No. 833/2014 , as they utilize Russian financial systems — SPFS , Mir , and the Fast Payments System . Previously, BelVEB Bank  and Belgazprombank  had already been included in this restrictive list. This means that all natural and legal persons within the European Union will be prohibited from conducting transactions through these banks, opening accounts, or making payments. The EU’s decision is aimed at preventing sanctions evasion through Belarus and at blocking financial channels that support aggression against Ukraine. For existing contracts, a transition period until April 25, 2026 , has been established. As noted by Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of NAM, Pavel Latushka : "These sanctions are not just a financial restriction. They are a direct reaction from Europe to the fact that the Lukashenka regime continues to serve the military and economic interests of the Kremlin, helping Russia circumvent international restrictions and supporting its aggression against Ukraine. The EU has also confirmed that the measures do not affect humanitarian supplies — food, medicines, or medical products. This means that the pressure is directed against the illegitimate authorities, not against the people. Belarus and Belarusians are not the same as the regime. The international community sees the difference between those who fight for freedom and those who help the aggressor. These sanctions are a signal that dictatorship will not go unpunished". Additionally, the 19th EU sanctions package against Russia introduced other amendments to the EU sanctions decision and regulation concerning Belarus. Under the new measures, the following entities and individuals have also been sanctioned: Horizon Holding , Scientific Research Unitary Enterprise “Institute of Digital Television Horizon” , CJSC Holographic Industry , Ilya Ikan , Chairman of the Belneftekhim  concern, Yury Predko , General Director of OJSC Managing Company of the Horizon Holding .

Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM) Pavel Latushka, Speaker of the Coordination Council Artsiom Brukhan, the new representative of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for relations with the Belarusian democratic forces, Ambassador Patrik Svensson, and Head of the Eastern Europe Department of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Division of the Swedish MFA Tove Wennergren. Warsaw, Poland, 2025.Photo : NAM Media Issues related to actions aimed at the release of political prisoners, sanctions policy against the Lukashenka regime, and the activities of Belarusian democratic institutions were discussed during the meeting between Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Head of the NAM Pavel Latushka, and the new representative of the Swedish MFA for relations with the Belarusian democratic forces, Ambassador Patrik Svensson, as well as Tove Wennergren, Head of the Eastern Europe Department of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Division of the Swedish MFA. The meeting took place in Warsaw and was also attended by the Speaker of the Coordination Council, Artsiom Brukhan. During the meeting, Pavel Latushka presented information about the work of the National Anti-Crisis Management and the Cabinet aimed at holding Lukashenka accountable for crimes against humanity committed against the Belarusian people, for the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children from the occupied territories of Ukraine, and for the act of aggression against Ukraine. The Deputy Head of the Cabinet appealed to the Swedish side for support of efforts to bring representatives of the regime to justice and emphasized the importance of such support from EU member states. When discussing the issue of political prisoners, it was particularly noted that the current situation resembles a continuous conveyor belt: despite the release of a small group of political prisoners, Lukashenka’s regime continues to expand the scale of repressions in Belarus. The Swedish diplomat noted that the goal of his work would be to continue Sweden’s support for the democratic forces of Belarus. He emphasized that the Swedish government proceeds from a long-term strategy of supporting the democratic aspirations of Belarusians. He specifically underlined that Sweden has always taken and will continue to take steps to keep the focus on the Belarusian agenda at the highest possible level within the European Union. "Sweden has always played a particularly leading role in supporting the democratic aspirations of Belarusian society. We highly value the position of the Swedish government and its readiness to strategically support Belarusians in their pursuit of democratic changes in our country. I hope for fruitful cooperation with the new representative of the Swedish MFA for relations with the Belarusian democratic forces", — noted Pavel Latushka.

Pavel Latushka at the Berlin Belarus Future Forum 2025. Photo: NAM media Theses of the speech by Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, at the Berlin Belarus Future Forum 2025 20.10.2025 Madam Vice-Chair of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Kristina Kampmann,Dear colleagues in the democratic movement,Mr. Director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia at the Federal Foreign Office, Dr. Niklas Wagner,Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, let me thank you for the opportunity to speak at the Berlin Belarus Future Forum 2025. I would like to thank Germany for its steady support for democratic change in Belarus and for the democratic future of an independent Belarus. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, as well as the German Federal Foreign Office, for organizing this Forum. This Forum is about the future of Belarus. And I want to start with a question: What will Belarus have no future without? Without independence, Belarus has no future.  And yet, it is Lukashenko’s policy that has damaged Belarus's independence, making it dangerously close to a Russian region. It has transformed our country’s territory into a Russian military base and a permanent threat to the safety of Belarusians and our neighbors. Without security, Belarus has no future. It is the Lukashenko’s policy that brought war to the doorstep of Belarus and the European Union, into our airspace. It opened the doors to the Russian army and brought war to Ukraine, where the regime is a co-aggressor. And his hybrid aggression against Europe has built a wall on the border with the EU. Yes, Europe built the wall to defend itself from aggression, but the architect of that wall is Alexander Lukashenko. And until his policy changes—until we force Lukashenko to change it—security will not return to Belarus, to Ukraine, or to Europe as a whole. Without national identity, Belarus has no future.  And it is Lukashenko's policy that has led to the ongoing destruction of everything national—from the language, books, and publishers to symbols and holidays—all to turn Belarus into a mini-Russia for his Kremlin boss. Without civil society, Belarus has no future.  And it is Lukashenko's targeted policy that has wiped out nearly two thousand NGOs in Belarus. Just think: he simply destroyed every organization inside the country that you, democratic nations, and the citizens of Belarus supported. Will he allow these organizations to return to Belarus? Never. He has called all of them extremist or terrorist, and opened criminal cases against all members. In place of these organizations, the state is actively creating militarized organizations. These groups stand strongly against all democratic and European values, calling them hostile. At the same time, the door is wide open for pro-Russian organizations. Belarus has no future without independent media, bloggers, and new media.  And it is Lukashenko's targeted policy that has led to their complete shutdown inside Belarus. The situation is exactly the same as with NGOs. Without a new generation, Belarus has no future.  Lukashenko saw his real support level in 2020. Since then, his targeted policy has actively focused on the brainwashing and militarization of children. From early years, children are forced into military-patriotic clubs, groups, and other paramilitary events to raise a generation that hates democracy and is ready for violence and war to defend the dictatorship. Right now, the Lukashenko regime is stealing the future from the country and the Belarusian people, blocking the nation from building a civilized, European civil society, even years from now. Belarus has no future without a political alternative. This targeted policy of Lukashenko has lasted over 30 years. From the start of his rule, he has used every method to destroy his political rivals. He killed them. He murdered Gonchar, Zakharenko, Krasovski. He broke up the democratically elected Supreme Council. He has always thrown every potential opponent in jail just for trying to run in an election. And right now, he persecutes all those he could not catch—those forced to leave since 2020—even here: he plans assassination attempts, issues hundreds of absentee verdicts, adds us to wanted lists, and constantly threatens our health and lives. This affects not just direct political rivals, not just the political institutions of the Belarusian democratic forces—the United Transitional Cabinet and the Coordination Council—but also any active person who opposes the regime. More than 600,000 people have been effectively forced or deported since 2020. And even after this, the repression against all of us—now cross-border persecution—has not stopped. Here are a few examples: Since the start of this year alone, the Lukashenko regime has opened at least 970 criminal cases  against Belarusians abroad, mostly those living in Poland and Lithuania. The United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus has been named a terrorist group by the regime. Lukashenko’s Investigative Committee has opened criminal cases against all 257 candidates who ran in the Coordination Council elections. The Committee charged every single candidate with four sections of the Belarusian Criminal Code. Nevertheless, despite the pressure, the elections took place, for which I am grateful to every participant and voter. It is important for me to emphasize this as the leader of the faction that received the highest number of votes in the Coordination Council elections. Sentences given in absentia, searches and seizing of property in Belarus, pressure on family members, massive campaigns to discredit politicians and activists, constant threats, planned assassinations, organized attacks, abductions, and disappearances—this is the reality faced by Belarusians in forced exile, the reality faced by the democratic forces. But we are withstanding this attack, we have stood strong for 5 years, and we will keep standing strong. We continue to fight. Because we know: Our country does not and cannot have a future without justice.  Lukashenko's policy aims to totally destroy the rule of law in Belarus and turn legislation into a tool for state violence. Lukashenko claims there are no political prisoners in Belarus because there are supposedly no "political articles" in the law. But over 1,220 people are officially recognized as political prisoners and are in the regime's jails right now. More than 4,200 people have been called political prisoners since the 2020 presidential campaign began. Over 8,400 people have faced political criminal charges, about 7,120 people have been convicted, and over 4,000 people have been or remain imprisoned for long terms. We must not be fooled by so-called "pardons" and "releases," thinking the regime’s policy has changed. The root problem—the repressive legislative practices—has not gone away. That is why Lukashenko has locked up even more people to replace those he "released." In total, no fewer than 100,000 Belarusians have gone through different forms of the punitive system for political reasons—we cannot call it a law enforcement or justice system. Think about it: that is 100,000 documented cases of state violence since 2020: searches, interrogations, short-term and long-term detentions. I repeat, because of political persecution and the political situation in Belarus, about 600,000 people were forced to leave Belarus. This was due to a targeted state policy to create an atmosphere of terror and fear for anyone who disagreed. And for none of them has justice and fairness been achieved yet. This is true even though international tools and ways to ensure justice can help, at least in part. The situation with the cross-border persecution of Belarusians has reached a scale unseen in Europe. Thanks to the Government of Lithuania, this issue is under the first review of the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor's Office. Support for Lithuania's action from other countries is essential because the scale of the Lukashenko regime's cross-border crimes is huge, and getting justice for the victims and holding those responsible to account is an urgent need. Today, we will talk about the future. I have just highlighted the conditions without which this conversation makes no sense. I hear voices saying, "Let's just agree with Lukashenko. Let's admit defeat. Let's give him everything he wants, and in return, accept the minimum he will agree to." The language of deals and bargaining has been heard often lately. I ask: can a deal be called good if its foundation is the denial of a future for Belarus? The future is not about tactics; it is about strategy.  Lukashenko’s regime's strategy is completely clear. What’s more, this strategy is an integral part of Russia’s strategy. So, I ask again: can a deal be called good if it is based on turning Belarus into a mini-Russia and an anti-Europe? The Lukashenko regime is not only unable to create anything else, but it has no intention to. All his policies and actions prove this. Was he provoked? This opinion also exists. But this is called victim-blaming. It is the same as saying that a robber was provoked by someone's riches, a rapist by someone's beauty, and a murderer by someone's will to live. Belarusians are a people who are truly rich and beautiful in spirit, morality, and values. And we truly want to live—in a free, independent, democratic, and peaceful country. No one can blame us for this. But this is exactly what Lukashenko accuses us of. He lacks all these qualities and pathologically hates everyone who possesses them. He pathologically hates the people who carry the values commonly called European, even though these values are universal. But hatred can never be the way out. And everything I have listed—all the necessary conditions for Belarus to have a future—all of this completely aligns with the desires of the majority of Belarusians, with our values, and with our definition of Belarus as the state where the Belarusian people want to live. And all of this is the subject of a national dialogue.  This dialogue is necessary for our country, for our people, to escape this... this is no longer just a crisis, but a political dead-end—a dead-end of terror, degradation and hatred for dissent, that Lukashenko has driven our country into with his policy. Changing this policy is the goal of the national dialogue. I am sure that Belarusians as a people are ready for it, because they have all the qualities of a party that is ready for negotiation and honesty, which are needed for a true dialogue. Belarusians proved this in 2020 by holding massive, but purely peaceful, protests against election fraud. In 2021, when they voted for a national dialogue to overcome the crisis. In 2022, when despite the ongoing state violence and terror, they still came out for peaceful protests against the war. But Lukashenko had no other answer to any of society's demands except to make the repression even harsher, create an even greater divide between the government and society, and lead the country into an even deeper dead-end: dragging it into war and pushing Belarus's sovereignty to the very brink of being lost. Today, Lukashenko says he is ready for a Big Deal with the United States. And he wants Europe to be part of this deal. His envoys, as we know well, are knocking on Europe's doors. He wants a Big Deal with the West. But he has no Big Deal for Belarusians! A deal, in his mind, is a deal with him, where he seeks to solve his own problems, and only his own, without any real change in policy or solving the internal Belarusian crisis. He wants sanctions lifted, to escape accountability, gain international recognition, and return to business as usual. What is he trading in this deal? Hostages. Political prisoners. His false rhetoric of peacekeeping, hoping to sell "Minsk-3" to the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine. In exchange, he wants what I said above. At the same time, he openly shows that:– His internal policy—that is, terror and dictatorship—cannot be a subject for any discussion.– He has no intention of talking with the democratic forces, who represent the aspirations of the majority of Belarusian society. And I return to the language of deals. Can a deal be considered good when its foundation is the Lukashenko regime denying a future for Belarus? Because if the status quo is kept, and his policies don't change, Belarus has no future. And most importantly: can you really make any global deal with someone who is unable to make a deal inside his own country? If Lukashenko refuses a national dialogue, refuses to talk with democratic forces, and refuses to solve the internal Belarusian crisis—can he be trusted as a partner in a bigger crisis-solving dialogue? The answer is clearly no. Without an agreement with society, there can be no external deals. Because one of the main causes of the global crisis is actually located in Belarus. Without changing the situation inside Belarus—and that means without changing the regime's repressive internal policy—any solution to the global crisis will not be lasting. It will not be strategic. Because strategy is about the future. The West has already tried tactics many times with Lukashenko. And we can see the result of those tactical choices. It is, to put it mildly, unsatisfactory. The only way to ensure a strategic solution to the crisis is a national dialogue.  A real national dialogue, not a fake one. And in this dialogue, the democratic forces must be the subject, not the object.  Otherwise, the internal Belarusian crisis will not be solved. Without the pro-European democratic forces taking part in the country's political life, there will be no policy change. Crucially, there also will be no checks and balances, nothing to counter Russian influence in Belarus. Simply put: if there is no internal, Belarusian deal, there will be no guarantee for the success of any Big Deal you make. It is important to remember that only the Belarusian people can act as the guarantor for the execution of any deal, the guarantor of peace and security. The anti-war stance of Belarusian society—this national consensus—is the first line of defense for Europe against the direct aggression of the Lukashenko regime. To leave Belarusian society out of the Big Deal, to leave it alone with Lukashenko and the Kremlin, means giving up this guarantee of security. A deal without strategic guarantees is an empty deal. And there have been enough such deals with Lukashenko throughout his history of relations to know how they end. What should be done? There is the path offered by those who call themselves "pragmatists"—to enter a tactical deal. That means: a deal on Lukashenko’s terms. There is another way. To remember the strategic interests and tools that Europe and the US hold. And to use these as the basis for communication with the Lukashenko regime. Communication from a position of strength, when  both Europe and the US clearly state the conditions for concluding any Big Deal. And I hope that our Western partners—both European and American—and we ourselves, remember the importance of real, not cosmetic, change to the current policy of the Lukashenko regime . And that the following is necessary: An immediate end to repressions; Release of all political prisoners; Guarantees for the safe return of Belarusian exiles and guarantees against subsequent prosecution; Security guarantees for opposition politicians and their supporters; Legalization of political and civic activities in Belarus, legalization of independent media and their activities in Belarus; Stopping the repressive law enforcement practices against politicians and civil society representatives, canceling the “extremist” and “terrorist” labels assigned to politicians, activists, organizations, and media; Abolishment of laws and decisions that limit the rights of Belarusians abroad (such as the decree on passports, notary requirements, foreign polling stations); Final resolution of the migration crisis and end to hybrid war against Europe; Stopping all support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Otherwise — pressure on the Lukashenko regime must remain and grow stronger, not the opposite. And secondly, that real dialogue, not its imitation, is necessary—with democratic forces, our political institutions: the President-elect, the Cabinet, and the Coordination Council, and the most engaged actors of the democratic movement—leading to a Round Table to conclude the "Belarusian Deal."  Without democratic forces—not the dictator's "pocket opposition"—dialogue is impossible and can not be accepted. And it is vital that in the upcoming European Parliament Resolution—which I hope will be adopted tomorrow, and which is a truly strong resolution—the European Parliament plans to recognize the role and agency of our institutions.  Lukashenko must receive this signal: without the "Belarusian Deal," there will be no Big Deal.  There will be no lifting of sanctions, no end to the isolation, and no bridges to the West. It is important to remember that the main sanction tools are in Europe’s hands. A huge share of Belarus's economic interests, which are currently lost, are in Europe. And the border with Europe is exactly where the line of isolation for the Lukashenko regime runs today. This is why it is so important for him to include Europe in the Big Deal. And this is exactly why Europe's position is strong enough to dictate the terms of the deal. And to turn it from a tactical one into a strategic one. It is Europe that will soon decide whether it is acceptable to negotiate about us without us. Thank you for your attention.

At the reception hosted by the German Embassy in Warsaw, in the framework of the Weimar Triangle, on the occasion of a meeting with the Belarusian democratic forces in connection with the OSCE Human Dimension Conference. Photo: The NAM media Theses of the speech by Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, at the reception hosted in the framework of the Weimar Triangle on the occasion of a meeting with the Belarusian democratic forces in connection with the OSCE Human Dimension Conference 15.10.2025  Your Excellency Miguel Berger, Excellencies, Belarusian colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen! Allow me to thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to speak here, at the German Embassy in Warsaw .  We, Belarusians, are grateful to Germany, Poland and France for your consistent support of the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people, standing firm in defense of our rights, dignity, and hope for a free and just Belarus. Since the very beginning of the brutal suppression of peaceful protests in Belarus in 2020, your countries as all our democratic partners have taken a principled and courageous stand. You extended a hand of solidarity to the victims of the regime’s atrocities — to political prisoners, those forced into exile, and those who remained in Belarus and suffered for their commitment to freedom and democracy. And we will never forget this solidarity in our most difficult times. Since 2020, the situation in Belarus has changed profoundly. The Lukashenko regime has systematically expanded its repressive practices, reaching into new areas of society and extending far beyond Belarus’s borders. Around 600,000 Belarusians have been forced into exile.  Those who have left Belarus continue to face persecution by the regime even abroad — through absentia trials, threats of violence, intimidation of relatives remaining in Belarus, arrest of property. Belarusians abroad are also deprived, on discriminatory grounds, of access to essential consular services, including passport renewals and notarization of documents. Today, the growing evidence absolutely allows us to assert that the external dimension of Belarusian repression is not just large, but immense and unprecedented.  The number of potential victims of these repressions is measured in hundreds of thousands. Hundreds of thousands of victims outside Belarus whom the regime continues to persecute.  These large-scale transnational repressive practices of the Lukashenko regime represent a serious threat to regional security in Europe. Thanks to the Government of Lithuania , these developments are under preliminary examination of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court . Support for Lithuania’s actions by other countries is extremely important because the scale of the Lukashenko regime’s cross-border crimes is overwhelming, and accountability for this is a critical necessity. At the same time, as Deputy to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , I would like to underline the continued relevance of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In 2023, the OSCE established the Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus , and it is symbolic that the Permanent Mission of Germany to the OSCE serves as one of the two members of the group’s secretariat. This group has become a unique platform for advancing the interests of democratic Belarus and for developing effective measures to address the security threats from the Lukashenko regime. In particular, the Belarusian democratic forces see an auxiliary role of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism  in monitoring the situation of transnational repression and in developing appropriate responses to these challenges. By sharing common European values and continuing the struggle for democracy in Belarus, we count on the continued support of Germany, Poland and France and the Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus within the OSCE. Belarusians continue their struggle — for a free, democratic Belarus, for a common European future. Supporting this struggle by our partners, holding the Lukashenko regime accountable for crimes against Belarusians, is a fight for justice. And justice must prevail. Thank you.

At the request of, and in cooperation with, members of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Belarus, which is preparing the resolution on Belarus , the faction "Latushka Team and the Movement For Freedom" worked over Saturday and Sunday on submitting proposals to the draft resolution of the European Parliament. Our faction initiated several important amendments concerning both the current situation inside Belarus and the situation of democratic forces outside Belarus. We proposed that Members of the European Parliament, when adopting the resolution, take into account the PACE resolutions of 24 June 2025, "Legal and Human Rights Aspects of the Russian Federation’s Aggression Against Ukraine" , which holds Lukashenko responsible for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to/through Belarus, and the PACE resolution of 9 April 2025, "Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: the need to ensure accountability and avoid impunity" , which emphasizes that the jurisdiction of the Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine should extend to acts of aggression committed by the highest military-political leadership of the Lukashenko regime. We also proposed that the resolution  call on the EU and its member states to support the Lithuanian government’s referral to the International Criminal Court  regarding the investigation of the Belarusian situation in connection with transnational crimes against humanity committed by representatives of the regime against the Belarusian people. Furthermore, we stressed that the most important conditions for normalizing relations between the EU and Belarus, in addition to ending repression and releasing all political prisoners, must include full decriminalization of socio-political life in the country and the launch of a national dialogue to overcome the deep domestic political crisis in Belarus. Our faction proposed that the European Parliament include in the draft resolution support for key institutions of the Belarusian democratic forces : the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and the Coordination Council, as well as Belarusian civil society organizations. We emphasized the importance of financial support for democratic institutions, independent media, and civil society organizations, taking into account the cessation of support from the United States. The discussion and possible adoption of the resolution by the European Parliament is planned for this week during a session of the Parliament.  The document is expected to provide a broad and substantive assessment of the current situation in Belarus and to include a number of proposals for the EU’s further strategy regarding Belarus . "Our faction has also submitted other proposals, which we hope will receive positive consideration. We have always noted the principled position of the European Parliament regarding the assessment of the unprecedented level of repression in our country and the importance of continuing pressure on the Lukashenko regime, as well as support for the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people" , said Pavel Latushka , member of the Coordination Council.

Source: Kuba Atys / Agencja Wyborcza.pl The Office for Foreigners of Poland continues to accept applications for international protection from citizens of Belarus and to review applications that have already been submitted — this was confirmed today by the head of the Office for Foreigners, Tomasz Cytrynowicz, during a meeting of the working group on the legalization of Belarusians under the Ministry of the Interior of Poland. On the Belarusian side, the meeting was attended by Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM) Pavel Latushka , legal advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Leanid Marozau , Chair of the Legal Commission of the Coordination Council Mikhail Kiryluk , Head of the Legal Aid Department of the Belarusian Solidarity Center Volha Dabravolskaya , and a representative of the initiative "Partyzanka". Due to a significant increase in the number of applications for international protection, the provision of the law that establishes the time limits (6–15 months) for case review has been temporarily suspended. This measure was taken in order to reduce the amount of formal correspondence and allow employees to focus exclusively on examining cases concerning the granting of international protection , explained Tomasz Cytrynowicz in response to a question from Pavel Latushka. During the meeting, representatives of the Office for Foreigners noted that the MOS portal is planned to be launched in the first quarter of 2026 . Its goal is to increase the processing capacity of applications, and once the portal is fully operational, to return to the standard timeframes for consideration . The Belarusian representatives raised the issue of the possibility of short-term travel outside Poland during the period of waiting for a decision on international protection , provided that the applicant has a valid residence permit and a Polish travel document. Following the meeting, a written confirmation of such a possibility from the Polish side is expected. Pavel Latushka and Leanid Marozau also raised questions regarding the application of the Dublin Regulation and the situation with political prisoners who are being forcibly deported to Lithuania. The Polish side expressed understanding of the problem and a willingness to consider possible solutions based on the general provisions of the document . In addition, the problem was discussed that arises in cases of passport loss, as well as when applicants run out of pages in their Belarusian passports and Polish authorities refuse to issue a Polish travel document. Representatives of the Office expressed their readiness to work on this issue and to consider possible administrative solutions.

"I would like to thank all the representatives of European parliaments who have come to this meeting and, through you, express gratitude to your parliamentary delegations to PACE for granting a mandate to the delegation of the Belarusian democratic forces, composed of six members of the Coordination Council, to participate in the work of the Assembly" ,  Emphasized Pavel Latushka , Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and member of the Coordination Council, during the third meeting of the Alliance of Parliamentary Groups ‘For Democratic Belarus’ , held in Paris  and organized by the National Assembly of France. Pavel Latushka noted that during the work of the delegation of the Belarusian democratic forces in PACE , it was possible to introduce two significant amendments  to the resolution on non-recognition of Lukashenka as president of the country , titled "The urgent need to hold free and fair elections in Belarus". Amendments were also successfully introduced to a number of other PACE resolutions  concerning the accountability of Lukashenka and his associates  for the deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children , as well as to the resolution on responsibility for the act of aggression against Ukraine. "This is very important, because on the one hand, it allows us not only to create a legal basis for future, as I hope, decisions within the framework of the International Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, but on the other hand — it gives us a unique opportunity to establish very good bilateral contacts with members of parliaments of the Council of Europe member states". Pavel Latushka appealed to the attending parliamentarians  to initiate meetings in the foreign ministries of their countries  to improve the conditions for issuing visas to Belarusians, noting the growing difficulties  Belarusians face in obtaining visas. When visas are issued, they are most often single-entry and valid for only a few days , which greatly complicates communication between Belarusians and Europe in general — and is especially difficult for those who, due to the regime’s repression, have been deprived of the possibility to return to Belarus and to communicate with their families. During his speech, Pavel Latushka also stressed  that the Lukashenka regime has effectively refused to fulfill the state’s obligations  toward part of its citizens who were forced to leave Belarus due to the climate of fear and terror created by the regime. Belarusians abroad cannot obtain passports, extend their validity, or perform notarial acts  in embassies and consular offices. All these are critical issues  both for Belarusians themselves and for the European countries in which they reside. Pavel Latushka called on parliamentarians , including in his capacity as a member of the Working Group on the Legalization of Belarusians in Poland under the Ministry of Interior of Poland , who receives daily appeals from Belarusians , to raise the issue of improving conditions for legalization  of Belarusians during their meetings with the ministries of interior  of their respective countries.

Pavel Latushka with the French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin. Photo: NAM Media. As part of his working visit to Paris , Pavel Latushka , Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), held a meeting with the Minister of Justice of France, Gérald Darmanin. During the meeting, Pavel Latushka presented to the French Minister of Justice information on the human rights situation in Belarus , drawing particular attention to the ongoing repressions inside the country , as well as to extraterritorial crimes committed against Belarusians  residing primarily in the EU member states. The Deputy Head of the Cabinet also outlined the situation of political prisoners  and informed the Minister about possible approaches to facilitating their release , including through the involvement of the European Union and France , as a leading EU member state. A separate part of the meeting was devoted to the issue of Lukashenka’s accountability within the framework of the International Criminal Court (ICC)  and to France’s potential support for Lithuania’s referral  regarding the consideration of the Belarusian situation by the ICC  for crimes against humanity committed against the Belarusian people. The parties also discussed the issue of responsibility for the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children  from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to Belarus, facilitated by Lukashenka , who personally authorized the corresponding financial and administrative decisions  enabling the illegal transfer and indoctrination  of Ukrainian children. During the meeting, the sides also addressed the activities of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine , in particular the collection of evidence and the transfer of the accumulated evidentiary base  to the relevant authorities, confirming the responsibility of the so-called top military and political leadership of Belarus  for its participation in the act of aggression against Ukraine. Pavel Latushka informed Gérald Darmanin about the activities of the Belarusian democratic institutions  — the United Transitional Cabinet  led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , and the elected representative body, the Coordination Council. He also highlighted the massive and unprecedented persecution by the Lukashenka regime  of members of the Coordination Council and democratic activists , noting that this persecution has an extraterritorial character  and is being carried out outside the borders of Belarus.

During the meeting between Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya  and the President of the National Assembly of France, Yaël Braun-Pivet , Pavel Latushka , Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), noted that France has always been, and remains, a leader in defending human rights, justice, and democracy. Pavel Latushka appealed to the Speaker of the French Parliament to support France’s involvement in the consideration of the Belarusian situation by the International Criminal Court , and emphasized the importance of bringing representatives of the Lukashenka regime to justice for crimes against humanity committed against the Belarusian people. In the context of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, legally established within the Council of Europe, Pavel Latushka also called on Yaël Braun-Pivet to support the examination of the issue of bringing Lukashenka and the so-called top military and political leadership of Belarus to accountability for the act of aggression committed against Ukraine. This issue was also discussed by Pavel Latushka during meetings with representatives of the Political and Legal Departments of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with Frédéric Petit, Head of the Parliamentary Group “For Democratic Belarus” in the National Assembly of France. The French side expressed its readiness to examine and work through this issue in detail.

Pavel Latushka with Benjamin Roehrig, Deputy Director of the Directorate for Continental Europe of the French MFA. Photo: NAM Media. As part of a working visit to Paris , Pavel Latushka , Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), held meetings with Benjamin Roehrig , Deputy Director of the Directorate for Continental Europe of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Élisabeth Berdens , Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Russia at the French MFA. The meetings were also attended by Uladzimir Astapenka , Representative of the United Transitional Cabinet for International and European Cooperation. The main topics of the meetings  included: the possible role of France in ensuring accountability of representatives of the Lukashenka regime  for crimes committed against the Belarusian people; France’s support for the release of political prisoners in Belarus; issues related to the legalization of Belarusians residing in France; further strengthening of sanctions pressure on the Lukashenka regime  for its support of Russian aggression against Ukraine; cooperation with the Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus within the OSCE  and the potential implementation of joint initiatives. During the meetings, Pavel Latushka also informed the French side about the growing persecution abroad of representatives of Belarusian democratic institutions and activists by the Lukashenka regime. The representatives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed their steadfast support for the democratic forces of Belarus  in their struggle for freedom and independence. The constructive nature of the talks  allows both sides to look forward to continued cooperation and further assistance from France. Pavel Latushka and Uladzimir Astapenka will take part in the third meeting of the Alliance of Parliamentary Groups "For Democratic Belarus", organized by the National Assembly of France, which is being held on 6–7 October in Paris.

The Museum of Free Belarus, a project of the National Anti-Crisis Management,  invites you to the exhibition "Tożsamość" ("Identity") by the Polish artist of Belarusian origin, Leon Tarasewicz . The exhibition features two large works by the renowned artist. One painting is inspired by an optical phenomenon called "Alexander’s Belt" , named after Alexander of Aphrodisias, the Greek philosopher who lived at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD and was the first to describe this phenomenon. The second painting depicts a road disappearing into the fog among leafless trees . In form, the work refers to Tarasewicz’s earlier paintings from the mid-1980s — compositions built from rhythmic, simplified forms using a limited color palette. The exhibition is held as part of Warsaw Gallery Weekend (WGW ) — an annual survey of contemporary art involving leading art galleries, cultural institutions, foundations, and artist collectives. In 2025, WGW will be held for the 15th time, featuring 53 galleries and 50 exhibitions. The Museum of Free Belarus, as an independent institution, participates in this large-scale event for the first time in the WGW+ section. "I highly recommend everyone to visit the wonderful exhibition of Leon Tarasewicz at the Museum of Free Belarus. I became familiar with his work when I served as the consul and ambassador of Belarus in Poland. He is an excellent Belarusian artist, born in Poland, belonging to the Belarusian minority in Poland, and truly an artist of world renown", said Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Pavel Latushka. Admission is free Date: September 19 – October 19 (closed on Mondays) Time: 11:00 – 20:00 (local time) Location: Museum of Free Belarus, Foksal 11/1, Warsaw

Pavel Latushka at the PACE session. Strasbourg, France, April 10, 2025. Photo: NAM-media Thesis of the Speech by Pavel Latushka, leader of the “Latushka’s Team and Movement ‘For Freedom’” faction, delegate of the Coordination Council to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, during the meeting of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights 30 September 2025 Dear Mr. Chair, Dear Ms. Dulina, Madam Special Rapporteur, Mr. Petru, Dear colleagues, The situation of political prisoners in Belarus is a tragedy that continues to unfold before our very eyes, despite recent attempts by the Lukashenko regime to disguise repression as reform and mercy. Let me begin with the facts, without emotion. On 3 June 2025, according to the Human Rights Center Viasna, there were 1,183 political prisoners in Belarus. On 21 June, Lukashenko released Siarhei Tsikhanouski along with 13 others. On 2 July, he allegedly pardoned another 16. On 11 September, he released 52 more — although one of them Mikalai Statkevich was immediately rearrested because he refused to leave Belarus. And yet, as of today, the total number of political prisoners stands at 1,201 (30.09.2025). Since the so-called release of Mr.Tsikhanouski, the number of political prisoners has actually grown by 18. To put it simply: for every 9 released, 10 new people are put behind bars. It is worth noting that according to dissident.by   the number of political prisoners is even higher, 1336. This is not reform or mercy. This is a conveyor belt of repression. There is no change in policy. The regime of Lukashenko continues its campaign of repression. According to the human rights organization Viasna, at least 950 people have been convicted on politically motivated criminal charges since the beginning of this year. There have been over 2,100 instances of criminal and administrative persecution. The list of so-called “extremists” has grown by 960 individuals, and 74 new entities have been added to the list of “extremist formations.” The regime is not only intensifying its internal repression but also expanding its extraterritorial persecution of Belarusians abroad — including members of the Coordination Council and the Belarusian delegation to the PACE. Since the start of the year, the Lukashenko regime has opened at least 970 criminal cases against Belarusians living primarily in Poland and Lithuania. Secondly, those who are released are in fact not free. Their release is conditioned on forced expulsion from Belarus. How are these so-called “liberations” carried out? Prisoners have bags placed over their heads. They are transported to the border. They are expelled without passports, making it technically impossible to return. Expulsion is exercised with no regard for relatives left in Belarus. Families are separated. This is not liberation. It is the physical deportation of a persecuted group of the civilian population of Belarus for political reasons. It is also an act of persecution — one of many extraterritorial crimes against humanity committed by Lukashenko and his senior political and military leadership. And what happens if a prisoner refuses to leave? The case of Mikalai Statkevich is telling. He insisted on staying in Belarus. Lukashenko did not allow him to remain free — he was immediately thrown back into prison.This demonstrates that persecuted individuals have no genuine choice: either leave their country under duress or return to prison. Pavel Latushka. Photo: NAM-media Colleagues, I must therefore ask: is it even correct to speak of these events as “releases”? In reality, what we are witnessing is not liberation but another form of cruelty, a mockery of justice and of human dignity. To call these expulsions “releases” is like calling exile a gift, or chains a form of protection. Let us be clear: Lukashenko is not changing course. He is refining his machinery of repression. Every so-called concession is paired with a greater act of injustice. Every alleged gesture of mеrcy masks another crime. We must not be deceived. The only path forward is unwavering pressure until every political prisoner in Belarus is unconditionally and genuinely free, in their own country, with their families, and with their rights restored. Until a genuine change in internal policy. In the end I would like to note that on this very day, exactly one year ago, the Government of Lithuania referred to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court the request to investigate crimes against humanity committed extraterritorially by the Lukashenko regime. The Office of the Prosecutor is now conducting a preliminary examination of this situation. Today, more than ever, supporting this process is crucial. All victims are entitled to justice. Restoring their rights is not only a legal necessity, it is our common moral duty. Thank you!