Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warns of security threats at La Toja Forum

At the VIII La Toja Forum, former EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the political situation in Belarus and its implications for European security. Borrell emphasized that Europeans should recognize their own freedoms while paying closer attention to autocratic regimes on the continent's borders.

Tsikhanouskaya addressed the distinction between the names ‘Belarus’ and ‘Byelorussia,’ stating that the latter is used by Russia to imply a connection to ‘White Russia,’ whereas the opposition seeks to maintain their historical identity. She argued that without a free Belarus, there will remain a constant threat to the European Union. Tsikhanouskaya further noted that while the current regime is perceived as a Russian satellite, the Belarusian people maintain a pro-Ukrainian and European mentality.