The Coordination Council, originally known as the Coordination Council for ensuring the transfer of power (Belarusian: Каардынацыйная рада, romanizedKaardynacyjnaja rada; Russian: Координационный совет, romanizedKoordinatsionnyy sovyet) is a non-governmental body created by presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to facilitate a democratic transfer of power in Belarus. The council, founded during the 2020 Belarusian protests in response to the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election, originally had 64 core members (as of 13 February 2021[1]) with a 7-member leadership presidium.

Coordination Council

Belarusian: Каардынацыйная рада

Russian: Координационный совет

Logo
Type
Type
History
Established14 August 2020
Preceded byNational Assembly of Belarus (claimed)
Leadership
Key People
3rd Composition (2024)
  • Speaker: Anzhalika Melnikava
  • Deputy Speaker: Stanislava Hlinik
Seats79
Website
rada.vision

The first meeting of the Council took place on 18 August 2020.[2][3] From late August to mid-October several of the presidium members were arrested or chose to exile themselves from Belarus, fearing repression by Belarusian security forces.[4]

In 2022-2023, the Coordination Council was transformed into a more representative body for the Belarusian people, consisting of members from various democratic groups in exile. This marked a significant step in formalizing the opposition's leadership structure.

In May 2024, the Coordination Council held its first direct digital elections, where over 6,700 Belarusian citizens participated. It operates in exile due to the political situation in Belarus.[5]

The European Parliament recognized the Coordination Council as a temporary representative body for the Belarusian people in its 2020 resolution 2020/2779(RSP), stating: "The European Parliament welcomes the Coordination Council as a temporary representative of the people demanding democratic change in Belarus and which is open to all political and social actors."[6]

Compositions

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First Composition

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Initially, the Council included about 70 members. On August 19, a Presidium of seven members was elected:

The main composition included:

Second Composition

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In August 2022 under the Conference New Belarus in Vilnius took Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya initiative to reform the Coordination Council into a more representative body for the Belarusian people. By February 2023, the reform of the Coordination Council's composition was completed. The Council then consisted of 22 former members, 73 new delegates from civil society organizations, and 15 self-nominated members. This transformation was initiated to make the Council more representative of the Belarusian opposition forces in exile.

Third Composition

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On May 28, 2024, the preliminary results of the elections to the Coordination Council's third composition were announced. The elections were held electronically from May 25 to May 27, verified through Belarusian passports. 6,723 voters participated in the election.[7]

History

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Creation

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The formation of the Coordination Council was announced on 14 August 2020, in a video released by Tsikhanouskaya. In the video, she also claimed that she had received between 60 and 70% of the vote in the 9 August presidential election, more than enough for an outright victory over longtime president Alexander Lukashenko. She appealed to the international community to recognise her as the winner.[8] Tsikhanouskaya stated that the aims of the council is to coordinate a peaceful and orderly transfer of power from Lukashenko[9][10][11] and to hold a new, free and fair presidential election at the earliest opportunity.

On 17 August, Tsikhanouskaya released a video in which she stated that she was ready to lead a transitional government.[12]

On 18 August, the Council held its first press conference with questions being answered by Olga Kovalkova, Maxim Znak, Maria Kolesnikova, Pavel Latushko, and Sergey Dylevsky.[13]

On 19 August, the Council elected a 7-member Presidium.[14]

August–September 2020

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On 19 August, Tsikhanouskaya recorded an appeal to EU leaders not to recognise the presidential election results in a meeting of EU heads of government scheduled for later that day.[15]

On 19 August, Alexander Lukashenko described the Coordination Council members, stating, "Some of them were once in or close to power. They were kicked out and hold a grudge. Others are outright Nazis. Just take a look at their names."[16][17] On the same day, former presidential contender Valery Tsepkalo said he did not understand the criteria for the new council's formation and its tasks. He complained that he was not invited.[18]

On 20 August, Prosecutor-General Alexander Konyuk initiated criminal proceedings against the Coordination Council members under Article 361 of the Belarusian Criminal Code.[19][20] In a statement released, Konyuk alleged that the "creation and activity of the Coordination Council are aimed at seizure of state power, and at harming national security" and that "the creation of such bodies is not allowed in law, and they are unconstitutional."[21] On the same day, presidium members Dylevsky and Znak were summoned for police questioning.[22] Znak and Dylevsky arrived for questioning on the morning of 21 August and were later released.[23]

On 21 August, Tsikhanouskaya's lawyer Znak filed a formal protest concerning the presidential election with the Supreme Court of Belarus. Znak said that "A complaint has been submitted. A decision on when to start proceedings is due within three days."[24] On 24 August, presidium members Dylevsky and Kovalkova were detained by OMON officers whilst attempting to support a wildcat strike at the Minsk Tractor Works factory.[25] Presidium members Vlasova, Latushko, Alexievich, and Kolesnikova were also summoned for questioning.[26] Both Kovalkova and Dylevsky were sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment the following day.[27]

On 26 August, Ivonka Survilla, President of the Rada of the Belarusian People's Republic, expressed her support for Tsikhanouskaya.[28]

On 31 August, presidium member Vlasova was detained by the OMON.[29]

On 5 September, presidium member Kovalkova chose to leave Belarus rather than remain in detention over the Section 361 charges.[30]

On 7 September, presidium member Kolesnikova was detained by unidentified masked men in Minsk.[31][32]

On 9 September 2020, the only member of the presidium not yet arrested or missing was Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Svetlana Alexievich.[33] However, there were reports from Belarusian journalists that unknown men were knocking at the doors of her home.[34] As of 9 August 2020, she was under round-the-clock guard by diplomats for several European countries, including ambassadors from Poland and Lithuania.[35][36][37]

At a press conference in Poland, council member Pavel Latushko condemned the situation in Belarus, claiming that 10,000 people were subject to misconduct and imprisonment orchestrated by the security forces. He stated that 450 people were tortured, and protesters were put into jail on fake charges. Latushko and Olga Kovalkova invited the OSCE and United Nations to send observers to Belarus to assess the situation.[38]

2022-2024

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In August 2022 took Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya initiative to reform the Coordination Council into a more representative body for the Belarusian people.

In February 2023, the reform of the Coordination Council's composition was completed and the Second Composition was formed.

On May 28, 2024, the results of the elections to the Coordination Council's Third Composition were announced. Third Composition became the first publicly elected composition of the Coordination Council.

"Extremist group" status

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In January 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus recognized the Coordination Council as an extremist organization. According to Belarusian legislation, members of extremist groups face imprisonment.[39][40] Earlier, in 2021–2022, Belarusian courts recognized the Council's internet resources as extremist materials.[41] In November 2023, more than 130 searches were conducted, and more than 145 properties were arrested during a massive raid conducted by the Belarusian criminal police against the members of the Coordination Council and their relatives.[42] According to Belarusian human rights activists, people allegedly associated with the Constitutional Court are approached with search warrants under six articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus:

  • “Treason to the state” – up to 15 years in prison;
  • “Conspiracy or other actions committed to seize state power” – up to and including the death penalty;
  • “Calls for actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus” - up to three years of imprisonment;
  • “Creation of an extremist formation” – up to seven years;
  • “Financing extremist activities” – up to six years in prison;
  • “Promoting extremist activity” – up to six years.[43]

On January 23, 2024, the Belarusian Investigative Committee announced that charges where brought against the Secretary of the Coordination Council Ivan Kravtsov, who has been accused of conspiracy or other actions committed to seize government power, сreation of an extremist formation and other articles of the criminal code.[44] Kravtsov has been the secretary of the Coordination Council since its formation in 2020.[45]

Objectives and structure

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Objectives

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The council has stated that its primary goals are:[46]

  • To end the political persecution of citizens and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
  • For the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.
  • The annulment of the 9 August presidential election and for new elections to be conducted to international standards organised by a reconstituted central elections commission.

Council Presidium member Pavel Latushko stated that the Council does not want to radically change the course of Belarusian foreign policy, adding that it wants to maintain "friendly and profound" relations with Russia, as well as to have a good working relationship with the European Union and to act as a bridge between the east and west.[47]

Factions

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The primary and fundamental form of interaction among the delegates of the Coordination Council is through factions. To enhance the efficiency of the Council’s work, formalized interactions between groups of delegates can also take place through working groups and committees. A faction is a group of delegates who have come together to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Coordination Council in achieving its goals. The initial names, numbers, and composition of the factions correspond to the names, numbers, and composition of the electoral lists that secured seats in the Coordination Council. Delegates are free to move from one faction to another, leave a faction, or not belong to any faction. A faction may also be dissolved by a majority decision of its members. The creation of new factions or the re-establishment of dissolved factions is not permitted. A faction's name may be changed by a majority vote of its members, but no more than once every six months.

List of Factions (2024)

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  • Latushka’s Team and the Movement "For Freedom" Number of Delegates: 28
  • Prokopev-Yahorau Bloc Number of Delegates: 13
  • Independent Belarusians Number of Delegates: 8
  • European Choice Number of Delegates: 8
  • Youth Offensive Number of Delegates: 8
  • Our Cause Number of Delegates: 6
  • Volya Bloc Number of Delegates: 6
  • Enough Fear Number of Delegates: 3

International relations

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Tsikhanouskaya asked the international community to support the efforts of the Coordination Council.[48]

Organisations

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States

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Tsikhanouskaya with Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Helsinki in 2022
  •   Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Tsikhanouskaya in Ottawa 23 November 2022 and reaffirmed Canada's support for the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people.[84]
  •   Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu announced on 18 August 2020 that Estonia does not recognize the results of the 2020 election.[85] On 24 October 2022, Tsikhanouskaya met with Reinsalu in Tallinn, and he announced plans to appoint an "ambassador at large" to the Belarusian opposition. Tsikhanouskaya also met with President of Estonia Alar Karis and addressed the Riigikogu.[86] Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu met Tsikhanouskaya in Tallinn on 24 October 2022 and expressed support for the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people.[87]
  •   Tsikhanouskaya visited Croatia in January 2023 and held meetings with prime minister Andrej Plenković and foreign minister Gordan Grlić Radman.[88][89]
  •   Tsikhanouskaya visited Helsinki in December 2022 where she met with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin.[90]
  •   Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda spoke with Tsikhanouskaya by telephone, offering his support for the Coordination Council.[91] The Prime Minister of Lithuania called on Belarus to conduct new, "free and fair" elections supervised by international monitors.[92] Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius referred to Lukashenko as the "former president" of Belarus.[93] On 20 August, Lithuanian prime minister Saulius Skvernelis invited Sviatlana to his office and publicly referred to her as "the national leader of Belarus.[94] On 10 September 2020, a law was passed by the Lithuanian Parliament which recognises Tsikhanouskaya as the "elected leader of the people of Belarus" and the Coordination Council as the "only legitimate representatives of the Belarusian people". The resolution also declares that Lukashenko is an "illegitimate leader".[95]
  •   Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, referred to the Coordination Council as the right partner for the authorities to negotiate with.[96] On 3 October 2022, the Polish Minister of Interior and Administration Mariusz Kamiński met with Tsikhanouskaya and four other members of the United Transitional Cabinet.[97] Tsikhanouskaya met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on 8 December 2022.[98]
  •   On 25 August, a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed that the leadership of the Coordination Council did not want to reduce ties with Russia and instead hoped to continue with good bilateral relationships between the two countries.[99] On March 9, 2021, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said in an interview to the RBK TV channel that the Coordinating Council asked him for a personal meeting, but the diplomat refused. "These are people no one has ever elected, these are people who are not vested with the trust of millions of voters. These are people who have defined themselves as such. This is such one of the public associations, maybe the same as a society of book lovers, philatelists, numismatists, fans of this or that club. But then they should be engaged in the public field of club work, and not engaged in the overthrow of the government".[100]
  •   The US Secretary of State in a statement urged the Belarusian government to actively engage Belarusian society, including through the newly established Coordination Council, in a way that reflects what the Belarusian people are demanding, for the sake of the future of Belarus, and for a successful Belarus.[101] The United States Government[who?] stated that "the people have clearly rejected the regime".[102]

Citizens' protest groups

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On 1 November 2020, in the context of the October 2020 Polish protests, Polish citizens led by All-Poland Women's Strike created a Consultative Council that they said was inspired by the Belarusian Coordination Council.[103]

See also

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References

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  2. ^ "В организованном Тихановской координационном совете по передаче власти назвали дату первой встречи". канал Дождь. 17 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Ex-Belarusian presidential candidate Tikhanovskaya's HQ starts forming coordination council to ensure transition of power". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  4. ^ Dapkus, Liudas (13 October 2020). "Belarus opposition leader threatens nationwide strike". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Coordination Council Election Results". Belsat. 28 May 2024.
  6. ^ "European Parliament Resolution 2020/2779(RSP)". 17 September 2020.
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  53. ^ @Tsihanouskaya (6 October 2023). "In my meeting with @armenia 🇦🇲 Prime Minister @NikolPashinyan & Foreign Minister @AraratMirzoyan today, I expressed condolences in connection with the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [user-generated source]
  54. ^ @Tsihanouskaya (5 October 2023). "Had the chance to personally thank PM @P_Fiala for support to democratic Belarus" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [user-generated source]
  55. ^ @EvikaSilina (5 October 2023). "Thank you @Tsihanouskaya for the meeting and the courage to stand up for a free Belarus enjoying democracy and the rule of law" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [user-generated source]
  56. ^ @Tsihanouskaya (5 October 2023). "At the invitation of 🇪🇸 PM @sanchezcastejon, I arrived at the meeting of the European Political Community in Granada" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [user-generated source]
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  72. ^ Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana [@Tsihanouskaya] (15 January 2023). "Tomorrow, I am heading to Davos to take part in the @wef's Annual Meeting 2023. I am especially excited to join the Belarusian side event on Thursday on the situation for businesses in Belarus today. To follow the upcoming sessions, please use: https://t.co/2ndDKom6Zy #WEF23 https://t.co/eUSid11wCv" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
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  74. ^ Varadkar, Leo [@LeoVaradkar] (19 January 2023). "Real pleasure to meet Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, flying the flag of democracy against a dictator, and fighting to protect her country's culture and language. Look forward to welcoming her back to Ireland https://t.co/mnriHlmGjI" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  75. ^ Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana [@Tsihanouskaya] (19 January 2023). "In my meeting with the President of the 🇨🇭 National Council @martin_candinas, I invited #Switzerland to support our demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus. We also discussed creating a parliament group of Friends of Free Belarus. @WEF #WEF23 https://t.co/3ypPA5rezH" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  76. ^ Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana [@Tsihanouskaya] (19 January 2023). "In my warm meeting with @alexanderdecroo, PM of #Belgium🇧🇪, I thanked for help to open our new Mission in #Brussels. We also discussed possible moves to counter Lukashenka's attempts to deprive his opponents of citizenship & further assistance for our civil society. @WEF #WEF2023 https://t.co/IeRNLL5kFR" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  77. ^ Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana [@Tsihanouskaya] (18 January 2023). "I admire @sandumaiamd & her efforts to make #Moldova🇲🇩 a prosperous European country. I thanked her for launching the parliament group for Democratic Belarus. We will stand together to counter the threat posed by the Russian revanchist regime to both our countries. @WEF #WEF2023 https://t.co/1wJ3yqSa6C" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  78. ^ Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana [@Tsihanouskaya] (18 January 2023). "I was glad to meet my friend @Xavier_Bettel, PM of #Luxembourg🇱🇺 & H.R.H. Crown Prince Guillaume at @WEF. Since the protests started in 2020, Luxembourg has been vocal about the regime's repression in Belarus & spoken loudly to support us at every international event. #WEF2023 https://t.co/WHt8JbP8PR" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  79. ^ Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana [@Tsihanouskaya] (18 January 2023). "Important discussion with 🇪🇸 PM @sanchezcastejon about 🇪🇺 strategy on Belarus at @wef. He is not only a close ally of Belarus but also a true friend. We must insist on Russian troop removal & start of democratic transition. Pedro, me siento honrado por tu apoyo y amistad. #WEF23 https://t.co/fWN6nvwXuU" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
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  81. ^ Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana [@Tsihanouskaya] (18 January 2023). "I thanked @ilo Director General @GilbertFHoungbo for supporting our repressed unionists & for ILO's brave decision to use Article 33 toward the regime. Today, almost all heads of independent trade unions are jailed. Worker repression must stop & all must be released. @wef #WEF23 https://t.co/ZYvCVjFHrt" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
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