At the EESC's February plenary session Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, called on the EU institutions to support the Belarusian people in their fight against authoritarianism. Belarus deserves to be part of the European family, she said, and this can only be possible with the active support of all EU-institutions. 

The human rights situation is worsening in Belarus, with some 1,500 citizens detained for political reasons and an average of 17 people put in jail daily. 

EESC President Christa Schweng said: "All politicians with authoritarian tendencies are afraid of their people. They are afraid of civil society and its role of channelling new creative forces so that they can emerge and make things happen."

Ms Tsikhanouskaya underlined the direct connection between the liberation of Belarus and Ukraine: "The future of Europe is being decided on the battlefields of Ukraine, in the Belarusian underground resistance, and of course in the European capitals". She called on the EU institutions to support the people who are fighting on the ground and in exile and suggested to revive the Eastern Partnership, from which the Belarusian government had withdrawn in 2021, in cooperation with the Belarusian opposition. 

"We call on authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the arrested people and trade unionists" said the president of the EESC Workers' Group Oliver Röpke.

"As the representatives of civil society, we are available to bring your voice to all EU institutions and to push forward your ideas about how to help improve the situation in Belarus" stressed Stefano Mallia, President of the EESC Employers' Group.

The vice-president of the Civil Society Organisations' Group Simo Tiainen said: "You are a strong and courageous woman, Ms Tsikhanouskaya. You fearlessly work for a better future for your country. We are on your side. Instead of dictatorship, democracy belongs to Belarus." (mt)