Belarus’ opposition leader meets with Orban, Vučić
July 19, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has held talks with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in the United Kingdom yesterday, her aide Franak Viačorka has told Pozirk, without commenting on details.
Cichanoŭskaja might have used the opportunity to appeal to the Serbian leader against extraditing to Belarus filmmaker and opposition activist Andrej Hniot arrested in Serbia in October 2023 at the request of the Belarusian police. Hniot is under house arrest in Belgrade.
Serbia, an EU candidate, joined the EU sanctions against Belarus in 2021 and supported further restrictions introduced for Alaksander Łukašenka’s support of Russia’s war on Ukraine, but Minsk has been making a diplomatic effort to persuade Belgrade to change its policy.
Meanwhile, Hungary is the only European Union member to maintain official contacts with the Belarusian government, accused of human rights abuse.
Budapest has aligned itself with the EU sanctions against Minsk, but Hungarian officials have repeatedly stated their opposition to that policy.
Orbán was in Minsk on an official visit in June 2020, weeks before the Belarusian presidential election that sparked country-wide protests and a politically-motivated crackdown.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó visited Minsk in May after coming to Belarus twice last year.
Last September, Alaksandar Łukašenka accepted credentials from Hungary’s Zita Bencsik, the only EU ambassador to present credentials to the Belarusian ruler after the disputed presidential election on 2020.
On July 1, Hungary assumed the six-month presidency of the EU Council.
Cichanoŭskaja asks Baltic states to ease ban on Belarus-registered cars
- EconomyRaiffeisen to sell its stake in PriorbankThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyVisa centers to prioritize applications of Belarusians accepted to Polish universitiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security
Lithuanian lawyer convicted of spying for Belarus
- Economy
Rubel down 0.94 percent against US dollar at BCSE this week
- EconomyBiełstat: Belarusian companies’ CapEx up 4.4 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
Belarusian tank crews to be drilled in Russia for one month
- PoliticsOpposition politician says Łukašenka responsible for forced transfers of 3,500 Ukrainian kidsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUS diplomat condemns Belarus 1 broadcast featuring jailed US lawyerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIllegal Belarus-EU crossings up 40 percent in SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: at least 17 arrested during raids in Viciebsk, Brest regionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Belarus: jailed US lawyer asks for pardon, reaches out to Harris and Trump
- PoliticsUN rights council to discuss Belarus on September 23The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Pinsk court to try journalist for protesting
- Politics
Belarusian bishop asks Pope Francis about regional peace
- SocietyInternational fund raises nearly €1.3 million for Belarus’ political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoE platform calls on Georgia to reconsider entry ban for Belarusian journalistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyArrests in Hłybokaje, StolinThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolitical prisoner Załatar released – ViasnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician grateful to EP for resolution on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMEPs urge EU to step up sanctions on MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Łukašenka meets with Donetsk separatist leader
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Minsk has “own standards” for presidential electionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
Rubel slides against US dollar, yuan at BCSE
- Politics
Cichanoŭskaja nominates new social security chief
- Politics
Opposition leader: white-red-white flag to fly over Belarus again
- PoliticsReprisals: teachers in focus over links to blacklisted education projectThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMEPs discuss resolution on Belarus' political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLatvian national Asars arrested for drug smuggling – customs committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights defenders label 7 as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNames of all 37 recently pardoned prisoners knownThe material is available only to POZIRK+