Andrei Sannikov: These Are The Most Important Issues For Belarusians

• 16.05.2026, 21:41

It is time for Europe to take decisive action.

The Democracy Summit, organized by former Danish Prime Minister and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, was held in Copenhagen. The leader of the civil campaign "European Belarus" Andrei Sannikov took part in the event, which took place on May 12.

The website Charter97.org talked to the politician about participation in this landmark event.

- You gave the former NATO Secretary General the book "Belarus in NATO". What was Rasmussen's reaction to the gift?

- At first, Rasmussen was happy about the word "NATO" on the cover, but then he was surprised by the title "Belarus in NATO".

This book consists of articles by politicians and analysts. I think he will be curious to know the opinion of people he knows well. The authors include former defense and foreign ministers. He is an active politician, engaged in both political and public activities. I hope that this book will not be useless for him.

- Who are some of the other prominent figures you met on the margins of the summit?

- At the summit, among other things, I represented the World Freedom Congress, because last year I was elected ombudsman of this organization, which includes about 60 countries with authoritarian regimes (a frightening number).

At the summit, there was a separate event dedicated to the work of the World Freedom Congress and the challenges we face. So all of the Congress participants who were there are and are iconic figures, mostly opposition leaders. They represented Iran, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Rwanda, South Sudan.

Besides the public discussion, we held several working meetings. We discussed the situation in our countries in order to get first-hand information about the events and situation, for example, in Venezuela and Iran - countries where quite dangerous and complex processes are taking place.

It was interesting to talk to the Prime Minister of Greenland Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who in his speech at the summit entitled "Not a word about the U.S.". They mutually wished our countries good luck.

These forums bring together many interesting people. It is not always interesting to talk only to the big names, sometimes experts give much more food for work.

And perhaps the most striking moment of the summit was the appearance on stage of two Iranian women who were blinded by the guards of the Islamic revolution during peaceful protests in 2022. They were invited to the stage by my congressional colleague, one of Iran's opposition leaders, Masih Alinejad. The hall was simply awestruck and listened standing up to one of them, Farideh Salavati, speak. This moment was revealing from another angle as well. Masih, whom the summit organizers were keen to see among the speakers, had set conditions that she would only come along with these two women. The condition was fulfilled.

- What issues about Belarus were raised on this platform?

- I decided to focus on political prisoners and the repression to which former political prisoners and political emigrants in general are subjected. In the speeches I identified three levels of repression. The first is repression inside Belarus. The second is transnational repression, when the regime uses international organizations, such as Interpol, as well as ties with governments and Foreign Ministries, to persecute political emigrants outside Belarus.

And the third level, which has become a pressure factor in recent years, is the fact that democratic states themselves make the life of political emigrants very difficult. People have to wait years for a residence permit, many issues are not solved at all. People are driven to despair, to suicide, deported to authoritarian countries, where a sad fate awaits them.

After Lukashenko's illegal decision not to issue passports abroad, the life of former political prisoners and political emigrants has become very difficult. Europe could take decisive measures here, but it is not happening.

I also spoke about the terrible situation of political prisoners inside Belarus.

What can be said about the concrete results of these meetings for Belarus and Belarusians?

For me, the result is certainly the communication with representatives of different countries, with whom, in particular, it was possible to discuss the topic of the third level of repression. Thousands of people abroad today find themselves virtually powerless. This is contrary to the laws and principles of the European Union itself. We should talk about it and demand to take measures.

- What are the most acute issues facing Belarusians and our country today? What can be done to solve these problems at the international level?

- The topic of Ukraine and, naturally, the war in Ukraine is the most acute issue today. There were many Ukrainians at the summit, with whom I also talked.

Europeans, at least those who spoke, came to the conclusion that they seem to have matured their understanding of the importance of full-fledged assistance to Ukraine. But I wouldn't jump to conclusions, because it's not the first time I've heard it.

The issue of Belarusian political prisoners is very important and acute, they are released a little, but even more are imprisoned. What should be done next? What ways can be used to speed up the release of political prisoners and to ensure that repression stops? These are the most important questions for us.