00:00Could you give us a reaction? What's your reaction to the U.S. administration's outreach to Lukashenko's regime, especially the easing of sanctions?
00:09So we're grateful to President Trump and especially John Cole, who are engaged in a humanitarian track on releasing of political prisoners from Belarusian prisons.
00:21It's really important because people are already five years in jail and people are dying, people are exhausted there.
00:27And, of course, we have to get people out of Belarusian regime clause.
00:32And I hope that this track will continue.
00:36Lukashenko is doing this not just because he is humane.
00:39I wouldn't suspect this dictating humanity at all.
00:43And, of course, he's, like, making people bargaining cheap and he's selling people.
00:49And the fact that Americans are lifting the sanctions is, you know, the price we have to pay for the people.
00:57But our strategy is that American sanctions have been imposed for human rights abuse in Belarus and they might be lifted if we see some releases of people.
01:07At the same time, European sanctions, you know, they are much stronger and they must be held for bigger changes because our goal is not just release people.
01:18It's our priority, but we have broader goals.
01:21We have to dismantle the regime to bring free and fair elections to Belarus, democratize our country.
01:27So it's complex of tasks, the tasks we put in front of ourselves.
01:32So American sanctions are to free people.
01:36European sanctions are to free Belarus.
01:38You just mentioned the prisoner exchange.
01:40What does the next big political prisoner release, when might that take place?
01:45And can it be as big as Donald Trump once suggested, which was over a thousand people at once?
01:50So I really appreciate that Special Envoy John Cole, who was appointed by President Trump, takes this problem of political prisoners very close to his heart.
02:01And he's really engaged in the track.
02:04And we, of course, we hope that next releases will take place in the nearest future.
02:10At the moment, we have at least 1,100 political prisoners.
02:15It's very important to underline that repressions haven't stopped.
02:18Instead of 100 released, regime detains twice more.
02:23So it's like, you know, endless process.
02:26And that's why our task is to make these changes in Belarus irreversible, that no people can be detained anymore.
02:34You know, people who had to flee Belarus can return home.
02:38So, again, you know, we have to track, you know, political dimension as well.
02:45And what would your general message to the Trump administration be how to deal with this regime?
02:50Don't trust the regime, because the regime's task is to fool you.
02:58They are not trustworthy, of course.
03:00And they want to, I don't know, to buy a Lamborghini, you know, for the price of a bike.
03:08They want to earn money, you know, and some advantages for them.
03:13They don't care about people.
03:15So, of course, you know, communicate with the regime about humanitarian threat.
03:20Not about business, not about legitimization of Lukashenko, not about recognizing him, but about people.
03:27Because aims of democratic countries and aims of dictators are different aims.
03:34So, are there any signs that Lukashenko may be slowing repression in response to U.S. outreach or not, really?
03:41Our human rights defenders are watching closely what's happening on the ground in Belarus.
03:46And we don't see any signs that repressions have stopped.
03:50What regime is doing, they are trying to hide the level of repression.
03:53Before, they were bragging how many people are detained.
03:56You know, now they threaten the relatives of people.
04:00They don't want people to go to human rights defenders, you know, to complain, you know, what is happening.
04:05But I'm so grateful to Belarusians in Belarus who continue to provide us information about political prisoners, about repression.
04:13So, the process of repression, I would say, intensifies even.
04:20Do you think sanctions on Belarus will really work?
04:24How can they help improve the situation in the future?
04:26Look, Belarus is a very bright example that sanctions really work, that isolation works.
04:36And if there were no strong sanctions on Lukashenko's regime during all these five years,
04:43there would be no intention of Lukashenko, you know, to release people.
04:47What for?
04:48You know, but only when regime started to understand that the democratic world will not give up,
04:54that they will continue to support the democratic movement, continue to support our aspirations.
04:59They will continue to keep pressure on the regime.
05:02They see that it's a dead end, you know, and they are ready even to release their biggest enemies of this regime
05:10just to get rid of the sanctions.
05:13So, we have to use the instrument wisely, not to buy political prisoners, it's ugly word, but just, you know, too expensive,
05:24and not allow Lukashenko to intensify just repressions, because it might be an endless source of income for Lukashenko,
05:33detain thousands of people, exchange for lifting of sanctions.
05:36We have to think wisely and to keep strong cuts, strong sanctions for systematic changes in Belarus.
05:44You already mentioned the difference between the U.S. and the EU sanctions regimes.
05:49Do you feel Lukashenko benefited from the removal of potash sanctions by the U.S.,
05:53given that the EU kept theirs in place and the best transport route through the Lithuanian port is closed?
05:59So, lifting of only American sanctions on potash still restricts a lot of gaining profit from potash for Lukashenko regime.
06:10They have still, you know, difficult logistics.
06:13So, lifting of American sanctions on potash doesn't work without lifting of European sanctions.
06:18So, that is why we urge our European partners, you know, not follow this policy of lifting of sanctions,
06:26because it's extremely strong instruments influencing on Lukashenko regime.
06:32And we are so grateful to Lithuania, especially for their principled position.
06:37Our neighbors, first of all, understand that only free and democratic Belarus can be a reliable partner
06:42and not source of constant threat to our neighbors.
06:47But, you know, we see how the regime is acting.
06:49They are blackmailing Lithuania and Poland.
06:51They are threatening with the migrants.
06:53They are sending these meteor balloons that interrupt airspace.
06:58So, they keep in stress and simultaneously want Europe to start dialogue, you know, or to leave sanctions.
07:05Of course, it doesn't work like this.
07:08So, that's why I ask Europe, keep your cards, you know, for bigger game.
07:14You yourself moved.
07:16What made you decide to move your office to Poland from Lithuania?
07:22It's not about relocation of the office.
07:24Our office remains in Lithuania.
07:26It's about broadening our presence in Poland.
07:29Both countries, Poland and Lithuania, are extremely supportive to Belarus and course.
07:35They showed solidarity through all these years.
07:38Lithuania is a very great example, you know, how to deal with the democratic forces.
07:46You know, they launched special investigations on the crime of Lukashenko's regime.
07:50They are supporting our office, our people.
07:53They changed the laws to welcome Belarusians and give more possibilities to live normally in the country.
08:00So, just more Belarusians live in Poland.
08:04And, you know, I feel like necessity to be more presented in Poland at the moment.
08:10And do you feel worried that Poland, like Lithuania, is a country which is subject to hybrid threats from both Russia as well as the Lukashenko regime?
08:17Absolutely, yes.
08:18You know, I see how regimes are threatening our neighbours and keeping pressure on the borders.
08:29You know, recently, you know, missiles have been launched from Belarus in Poland's side.
08:34So, as I say, it will be an endless process of intimidating, of threatening, of blackmailing with nuclear weapons, with the deployment of Oreshnik, with the migrant attacks, you know, whatever.
08:50You know, and while Lukashenko is there, there will be no peace, no security for our neighbours, including Ukraine.
08:57Do you think you will ever actually be able to return to Belarus?
09:04Of course, yes.
09:05I am really optimistic about returning home.
09:09And returning home means that there are changes in Belarus.
09:13Because, look, the regime of Lukashenko is a lame duck.
09:17You know, his position is fragile.
09:19You know, he is not supported by people.
09:21He is kept in isolation from our democratic partners.
09:24Of course, he wants by all means, you know, to legitimize himself, to show himself as, you know, a relevant politician.
09:31But we have to understand that he is serving to Putin's interest, to Russia's interest, not to Belarusian one.
09:36He is ready to erase our national identity, to erase our country, you know, from the map of Europe just to save his own power.
09:45You know, our task is to save our country.
09:48You know, not to save Lukashenko or split Lukashenko with Putin.
09:51I think that is impossible, but to save our country.
09:53And I see that Belarusians are not giving up.
09:56I'm really very often behind dictators, behind states, you know, these big political discussions.
10:03We forget about the most precious of every country.
10:06It's people.
10:07Our people want changes.
10:09People are ready to mobilize.
10:12People are so initiative, creative in the fight against regime and even experiencing transnational repressions.
10:20We are united.
10:21We are working in coordination.
10:24So the society will never be able to change.
10:28You know, we feel pro-European moods.
10:31You know, we don't support this regime.
10:34We are fully supporting Ukraine.
10:36So I think that at the end society will win.
10:40But, of course, we need allies for our victory.
10:43Finally, very briefly, Donald Trump's board of peace is being signed today.
10:51And Belarus is signing that.
10:53What does that mean for the country?
10:54Does that make any difference?
10:55Look, of course, I really appreciate all the efforts, you know, just to stop sufferings in Gaza or stop any other war.
11:02But I don't understand what Lukashenko can do in this unity, in this alliance, because he and Putin, they are people who are interested in the wars,
11:14because war fuels their regimes, justify repressions, and they have nothing to contribute, you know, into this initiative.
11:23But, of course, we will see how this initiative will work.
11:27But for me, it's strange to see the people who launched the war against its own nations or against Ukraine.
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