Congress Vice-President and Rapporteur for a Democratic Belarus Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) carried out a study visit in Poland on 8-10 December 2025 to assess the situation of Belarusian democratic forces (BDF) and civil society in exile and their co-operation with local and regional authorities. The mission focused on the challenges faced by Belarusians forced to leave their country, the role of the diaspora, and the impact of transnational repression whereby Belarusian citizens must return to their country to renew their passports, or lose their status abroad.
In Gdańsk, the Rapporteur met with city authorities to learn about inclusive local policies, including the Model for Equal Treatment and the Immigrant Integration Model. Visits to the Dolna Brama Centre, the Immigrants Support Centre and the European Solidarity Centre highlighted participatory practices and local support mechanisms for migrants and refugees, including members of the Belarusian diaspora. Ms Dalman Eek also met with representatives of local Belarusian NGOs.
In Warsaw, the Rapporteur had a meeting with Tomasz Cytrynowicz, Head of the Office for Foreigners of Poland, to discuss legalisation aspects of Belarusians in Poland. She also met with representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces, including Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus; Arstiom Brukhan, Speaker of the Coordination Council; Iryna Khalopitsa, Head of the BDF deputation to the Congress; Yury Hubarevich, Head of the Personnel Reserve; and Anatol Liabedzka, Advisor to BDF Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation and member of the Association of Local Council Deputies.
The Rapporteur held a series of meetings with the Belarusian civil society, including the Belarusian Association of Political Prisoners “Da Voli”, the Free Belarus Centre, the “with Belarus Beehive” Association, the Institute for Development and Social Market in Belarus and Eastern Europe, and the Belarusian National Youth Council.
Discussions addressed political prisoners in Belarus, legalisation procedures for Belarusians in Poland, and documentation of human rights violations committed by the Lukashenka regime. The mission concluded with a Roundtable on Local Self-Government and Democratic Transition to a New Belarus, which brought together BDF experts and representatives to discuss legislative aspects of decentralisation, local democracy and a future roadmap for democratic transition, including the future local self-government system. The Roundtable served to present the findings of expert analyses on the Local Self-Government Concept for a New Belarus, the draft Law on Local Self-Government, and relevant provisions of the draft Constitution, prepared by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress, as well as to initiate work on a roadmap for reform.
The Congress Rapporteur reaffirmed the Congress’ commitment to supporting Belarusian democratic forces and civil society in promoting multilevel governance, human rights and local democracy.
The study visit was organised within the project “Leading the change for democracy and human rights at local level with Belarusian democratic forces” (2024–2025), as part of the Council of Europe’s Contact Group on Co-operation with Belarusian Democratic Forces and Civil Society.
