Having recently been released along with other political prisoners in Belarus, Maria Kolesnikova urged European Union leaders to start a dialogue with Belarusian authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. This was reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Belarus Service.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Kolesnikova, the former head of the opposition candidate Viktor Babaryka’s campaign team and one of the leaders of the 2020 protests, noted that isolation from Europe could bring Lukashenko closer to Russia.
Context and Position on Dialogue
“This creates Belarus less safe and less predictable for Europe”
Kolesnikova was sentenced to 11 years in prison and spent almost four years behind bars without contact with the outside world. She was released in December last year as part of a group of political prisoners after a prolonged detention connected to contacts with representatives of the Trump administration; the United States has significantly eased sanctions on Minsk.
After her release, she was criticized for expressing thanks to Lukashenko at a press conference in Ukraine for releasing the political prisoners.
“I don’t understand why Europe did not launch neobtainediations with Lukashenko earlier than the United States. Obviously, for example, Germany has far more ties with Belarus”
“If he is ready to take humanitarian steps in response to sanctions relief, including releasing detainees and allowing indepfinishent media and non-governmental organizations to operate in Belarus, this should be discussed”
The EU countries’ authorities, unlike the current US administration, do not consider Lukashenko a legitimate president. Relations with the Belarusian authorities exist de facto, but active political dialogue is not taking place. Meanwhile, representatives from the Trump administration have visited Minsk several times.
Outsee for Dialogue and Conclusions
Kolesnikova’s position underscores the complexity of European diplomacy toward Minsk: on the one hand, a push for a humanitarian component and the release of detainees; on the other – concerns about legitimacy and regional security. In the context of current sanctions and international debates, dialogue with Lukashenko remains a topic that elicits varying assessments among Western partners. At the same time, the EU’s stance on tightening or softening approaches depfinishs on concrete steps from the Belarusian side and respect for fundamental human rights.
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