Giulia 💙💛 🌻🌻🌻

At today's @Europarl_EN briefing, I called on the 🇪🇺 to reject the #Belarus regime's sham election, support efforts to document violations associated with the campaign, and amplify the voices of our democratic forces to counter the regime's propaganda. I also also outlined specific steps the EU could take to support: Independent media: ▪️Provide consistent financial and technical support to independent media. ▪️Organize training on digital security, investigative journalism, and audience engagement. ▪️Foster partnerships with European media to amplify Belarusian voices on international platforms. Civil society: ▪️Support initiatives promoting democratic values in Belarus and resisting Russian aggression and the ideology of the ‘Russian world’. ▪️Simplify visa procedures and facilitate the issuance of residency permits for Belarusians in exile. Political prisoners: ▪️Raise awareness about political prisoners through international campaigns. ▪️Provide legal assistance to prisoners and their families via international organizations. ▪️Establish an EU-led task force to document human rights violations. #BelarusDays

I’m in Vienna 🇦🇹 today to deliver the opening speech at the 1st Eastern Partnership CSF Civil Society Summit #EaPCSFSummit. I’ll also participate in an @OSCE event with the Friends of Democratic Belarus & meet 🇦🇹 FM @a_schallenberg & @EU_Commission NEIB Director @AdriennKiralyEU.

Dear @MKoplimaa, thank you for supporting our fight for freedom. Estonia's unwavering commitment to democracy and human rights inspires us all. We value our close friendship and your solidarity with the Belarusian people.

On #WorldChildrensDay, let’s unite to defend every child’s right to grow up in freedom & safety. We must remember Belarusian children separated from parents imprisoned for their beliefs, minors unjustly held as political prisoners & the regime’s role in abducting 🇺🇦 children.

Honored to open the #EaPCSFSummit in Vienna. The #EaP has inspired Belarusians to dream of a European future. For us, the 🇪🇺 is the only viable path to freedom & prosperity. Europe needs Belarus as much as Belarus needs Europe. Together, we will build a stronger, united future.

At the #EaPCSFSummit today, I proposed five steps that can already be taken within the Eastern Partnership #EaP to support a democratic #Belarus: 1️⃣ Joint projects and cooperation: Belarusian NGOs, grassroots initiatives, independent media, and cultural projects are fighting to survive. The resources that cannot be used inside Lukashenka’s Belarus should be redirected to support civil society projects working for the sake of a free Belarus. 2️⃣ More people-to-people ties and mobility through visas and exchanges: Dictators claim that we are not welcome in Europe. We must prove them wrong. Through the Eastern Partnership, we can send a clear signal that the doors of Europe will remain open to a democratic Belarus. 3️⃣ Deeper regional cooperation: While dictators are uniting and learning from each other, we must also stay united. We could hold joint events under the aegis of the Eastern Partnership. 4⃣ Campaigns for the release of political prisoners in Belarus: Right now, there are at least 1,300 people behind bars, many held incommunicado. We must do everything to free them. 5️⃣ Global vision: While the dictator has left the Eastern Partnership, we, Belarusians, have not. Let’s end the ‘empty chair’ practice and invite representatives of democratic Belarus to the Eastern Partnership Summit.

It fills my heart with joy that another 32 political prisoners in #Belarus are set to be released, including 17 with chronic illnesses & 9 over the age of 50. However, we must see the harsh reality: repression continues & the number of political prisoners keeps growing.

At today’s @OSCE event, I emphasized that lasting peace in the region is impossible without a democratic #Belarus. Russia will continue to use our country as a proxy, threatening our neighbors. The fight for a free Belarus isn't just a domestic matter—it’s a regional imperative.

Thank you, @a_schallenberg, for today's warm meeting at @MFA_Austria. We discussed steps to achieve an end to repression & the release of all political prisoners in #Belarus. I am glad that 🇦🇹 recognizes that the regime's so-called 'elections' will be neither free nor fair.