Pressure on Yara delivers results; diasporas support a unified position on the referendum

The influence of civil society and political organisations on the Belarusian political agenda is somewhat diminished by the transfer of attention to events in Kazakhstan. Discussion among supporters of change regarding strategy towards the constitutional referendum has restarted and diasporas joining in promoting a common position. Democratic forces continue to encourage the sanctions agenda with the leaderships of Lithuania and Germany.

Democratic forces continue to promote a unified strategy towards the constitutional referendum. Diasporas are beginning to actively align on a unified plan for the referendum and the organisation involving actions in various countries. However, a discussion has arisen in civil society and the expert community regarding adjusting strategy in connection with the possible reaction of the Lukashenka regime to events in Kazakhstan.

Democratic organisations continue to coordinate a common position in accordance with the expectations of Belarusian society. The office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Coordination Council and the National Anti-Crisis Management issued a joint statement condemning Belarusian military involvement in Kazakhstan.

Democratic forces have achieved another success in promoting their sanctions agenda; the Norwegian company Yara intends to stop buying potash from Belaruskali from April 1, 2022.

International attention to the situation in Belarus is decreasing somewhat, but expatriate communities are trying to keep the focus of Western capitals on the sanction agenda against the Lukashenka regime. The Leader of Democratic Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, met with the President of Lithuania to discuss the sixth package of sanctions.

Pavel Latushka, a member of the Presidium of the Coordinating Council and the leader of the NAU, held meetings in Berlin with the ruling parties of Germany to promote the democratic agenda. German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbok updates the Belarusian agenda and stands in solidarity with democratic forces.

Political organisations and parties in Belarus are resuming communication activities with their sympathisers, mainly online. Intra-party and educational events took place (BSDP “Hramada”, “Robim Razam”, “Together”).

Several initiatives continue to attempt to influence state policy at both the national and local levels. The “petitions.by” platform supports campaigns via a website and a telegram-bot.

The unified position of the democratic forces and the civil society is retaining the attention of the supporters of change in advance of the referendum, raising the prospect of possible subsequent mobilisation.