Leading representatives of democratic forces from Belarus - including their leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya - as well as members of civil society and journalists are joining parliamentarians from across Europe in Helsinki on 11-12 January to discuss the democratic future of Belarus.
The "Helsinki Dialogue" event, jointly organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Parliament of Finland, features six panel discussions on the current geopolitical context around Belarus, Belarusian national identity, political prisoners, strengthening support for democratic forces in the country, electoral matters and the creation of a representative body of the Belarusian people.
The event, which aims to show international support for Belarusians striving to build a democratic future for their country, will be opened by the leader of Belarusian democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis. The head of the Finnish delegation to PACE and Chair of the Finnish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC) will moderate.
Mr Kiljunen's report on "A democratic future for Belarus" is due to be debated by the Assembly - which brings together parliamentarians from the 46 nations of the Council of Europe - on 25 January during its winter plenary session in Strasbourg. The Helsinki event is part of PACE's ongoing regular dialogue with Belarusian democratic forces.
