The visit by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, comes amid Russia’s continued war against Ukraine, an increased Russian nuclear threat to Europe exacerbated by the Minsk regime’s hosting of tactical nuclear weapons under Moscow’s command, and the recent arrival of mercenary Wagner Group fighters on Belarusian territory. Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, gives a statement in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

EU - Belarus (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

formal sitting

TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Sviatlana (BY)

president's agenda

Formal sitting with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear colleagues. Can I please ask you to take your seats? Because today, after this very important morning, we continue with our heavily packed crucial agenda. We have with us today one of the bravest. Toughest, most resilient leaders. I have the honour of calling a friend. Belarus. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear Svietlana, the world has witnessed your determination, your courage. And your perseverance, the values that underpin you and your people's struggles bind us together as Europeans. It is a pleasure to welcome you back to the European Parliament. You are here, as you've just seen among allies and among friends of the Lukashenka regime in Belarus represents everything that Europe was built to stand against autocracy, arbitrary detention, torture.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Three years ago, the Belarusian people spoke. They chose to end the age of dictators and their will must be respected. The situation in Belarus has reached a tipping point. 1500 people remain political prisoners, including your trailblazing husband, Sergei Tsikhanousky, Maria Kalesnikova, Maxime Zhang and Mikola Statkevich. From here, let me reiterate our demand for their immediate and unconditional release.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We have said it before, but this bears repeating for as long as it takes. The people of Belarus must be able to live in freedom, free from autocracy, free from oppression. It is what they want. It is what they chose. It is what they deserve. And we will continue to support Belarusian democratic forces and to play an active role in shaping the European Union's response to the ongoing political crisis in Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It is critical that we further expand European Union sanctions against the regime and do not lose sight, ever, of what they have done. And to quote you, Svetlana. "We are not strangers. We have family members who have been away for too long. We are the forgotten Europeans returning home. Belarusians have always been a part of Europe and will always be". Let me assure you, you have never been forgotten. We will always stand with you and help you return home.