#unga81

Following our meeting in New York, I was grateful to hear 🇸🇮 PM @jjansasds@bird.makeup bring Belarus to the podium at #UNGA81. Thank you for calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, condemning the regime’s systematic repression and demanding

#UNGA81 🇷🇺 🇮🇶 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of #Iraq Fuad Hussein hold a meeting on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly. #RussiaIraq

In New York, I joined a closed meeting convened by @unreliefchief@bird.makeup Tom Fletcher and @minderoo@bird.makeup Foundation founder Andrew Forrest on the future of international humanitarian assistance. I used this opportunity to seek concrete support for Belarusians. I discussed humanitarian programmes that could help our people with @unicef@bird.makeup’s @tedchaiban@bird.makeup. Andrew Forrest and I spoke about possible support for independent Belarusian media through the International Fund for Public Interest Media. My conversation with @statedeptpolicy@bird.makeup Director Jeremy Lewin focused on the humanitarian efforts of the U.S. administration and @johnpcoale@bird.makeup to free political prisoners, as well as the support people need after their release. In a separate conversation, @msf_usa@bird.makeup CEO Tirana Hassan and I discussed assistance for political prisoners, former prisoners and their families. Several years ago, during our meeting in Davos, the idea for the International Humanitarian Fund was born. Today, 15 countries have joined the Fund. We must help Belarusians today while also preparing for tomorrow. After democratic change, Belarus will need international support to recover from years of dictatorship. These partnerships must be built now. #UNGA81 #UNGA

On the margins of #UNGA81, I met 🇸🇪 FM @mariastenergard@bird.makeup. I am thankful to Sweden for easing procedures for Belarusians in exile. By recognising that our people cannot safely return home to renew their passports, 🇸🇪 has opened a path for Belarusians to obtain an alien’s passport.

Five years after our first meeting in Ljubljana, I was glad to meet 🇸🇮 Prime Minister @jjansasds@bird.makeup again in New York during #UNGA81. He knows personally what political persecution and prison mean. It is very important for Belarusians to have friends who understand this not only as a political problem, but also as a personal human experience. We spoke about Belarus’s militarization, the regime’s dependence on Russia and support for political prisoners and their families. I invited Slovenia to consider another contribution to the International Humanitarian Fund and rehabilitation programmes for former political prisoners. I am thankful for 🇸🇮’s consistent support for our civil society, democratic forces and independent media.

#UNGA81 🇷🇺 🇲🇱 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali Abdoulaye Diop hold a meeting on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly. 📍 New York, September 24 #RussiaMali

Honored to meet @prezidentpavel@bird.makeup again on the sidelines of #UNGA81. I am thankful for 🇨🇿’s firm support for Belarusians and Ukraine. We must keep pressure on the regime until there is systemic change, free every political prisoner and secure Belarus’s European future.

Yesterday, during the High-Level Week of #UNGA81 in New York, I took part in a ministerial side event on the situation in Belarus and its implications for regional and international security. The meeting was organized by 🇱🇻 @latviaun_ny@bird.makeup and 🇪🇺 @euatun@bird.makeup with the assistance of our Office. Representatives of 🇺🇦 @mfa_ukraine@bird.makeup, 🇱🇹 @lithuaniamfa@bird.makeup, 🇪🇪 @mfaestonia@bird.makeup, 🇮🇪 @dfatirl@bird.makeup, 🇸🇪 @swemfa@bird.makeup and 🇨🇿 @czechmfa@bird.makeup also helped organize the event. Thank you to all participants, including @kajsaollongren@bird.makeup, @braze_baiba@bird.makeup, @alain_berset@bird.makeup, @andrii_sybiha@bird.makeup, @budryskestutis@bird.makeup, @petr_macinka@bird.makeup, @nealerichmond@bird.makeup, @martinrogeree@bird.makeup, Gunnar Aldén and @jamiemfly@bird.makeup. I am thankful for a productive discussion on political prisoners and repression, sanctions, international accountability, and keeping Belarus on the UN agenda. A regime that destroys the rule of law at home eventually becomes a threat beyond its borders. The Lukashenka regime imprisons Belarusians, supports Russia’s war against Ukraine, pursues our people abroad, weaponises migration and threatens our neighbours. I welcomed the recent releases. Every person who walks free matters, and humanitarian efforts must continue. But lasting change means ending new arrests, releasing and rehabilitating every political prisoner, and restoring the rule of law. Until then, pressure and accountability must continue. We also need practical solutions for Belarusians denied valid passports, stronger protection from transnational repression, and continued visas, scholarships and support for civil society. Our goal is a sovereign, democratic and European Belarus that will be a reliable neighbour and a source of security.

At #UNGA81, I see strong unity among countries on Belarus. They understand that Belarus is not Russia and Belarusians are not the regime. We must isolate the regime without isolating our people. Belarusians must remain connected to the democratic world, where we belong.

Belarusians are not Russia’s accomplices. Lukashenka’s regime is. Today in New York, I will brief ministers and international partners on how repression at home has enabled aggression abroad. Thank you to Latvia and the EU 🇪🇺, together with Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Sweden and Ukraine, for hosting today’s ministerial side event on the margins of #UNGA81, organised in cooperation with our office. The Belarus regime provides territory and infrastructure for Russia’s war, weaponises migration, spreads disinformation and persecutes Belarusians beyond our borders. A sovereign, democratic Belarus would end this complicity and become a reliable neighbour and a source of security for Europe. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-new-york/belarus-accomplice-russias-war-against-ukraine-and-threat-international-security_en