Democrats call for a boycott of the 2024 elections as the United Provisional Cabinet continues to isolate pro-government organisations

Democrats delegitimise the 2024 elections of members of parliament and local councils and encourage supporters not to participate. The United Transitional Cabinet (UTC) lobbies for the expulsion of the Belarusian Red Cross from the International Federation, and termination of international funding.

Following Coordinating Council hearings, Tsikhanouskaya reshuffled the UTC, removing Azarov from the position of Cabinet representative for restoring law and order and legality.

Since the mid-1990’s, democratic political organizations have tended to boycott the electoral cycle. At the “New Belarus” conference, organised by Tsikhanouskaya’s office, the UTC and the Coordinating Council, the leaders of democratic Belarusian political organisations adopted a joint statement discouraging their supporters from participating in the 2024 elections, and strengthening Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s status as the elected leader of democratic Belarus.

Conference attendees also agreed to focus on pro-European elements in Belarusian society and adopted a political declaration clearly favouring Belarus’ membership of the EU, solidarity with Ukraine, and condemning Russian aggression and the complicity of the Lukashenka regime.

Meanwhile, support for forcible regime change continues to gain in popularity in response to continuous repression and deprivation of political rights.

The Lukashenka regime and organizations close to it continue to be isolated by the international community. Pavel Latushka, head of the NAU and deputy head of the UTC announced that the Belarusian Red Cross may be suspended by the International Federation due to complicity in the removal of Ukrainian children and support for Russian aggression.

Democrats are lobbying against proposed Lithuanian sanctions on Belarusians following the relocation of Wagner PMC to Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya held talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda regarding the possible restrictions.

On the third anniversary of the 2020 presidential elections, political organisations, and the diaspora organised actions in cities around the world. Diplomats from four EU countries reiterated their commitment to Belarusian democracy.

In summary, Democrats will abstain from mobilising their supporters for the election campaign due to continuous repression of dissidents and the emigration of activists.