On 24 October, the day marking BChD’s centenary, Białystok hosted a representative congress of Belarusian Christian Democrats, which brought together more than 150 participants from across Europe and Belarus.
The BChD Congress was greeted on behalf of the European People’s Party by EPP Vice-President Andrzej Halicki. Speeches were delivered by Gabriele Baumann, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Representative Office; Hayato Okamura, a member of the Czech Parliament and head of the “For a Democratic Belarus” group; Jon Steinar Kjøllesdal, a representative of the Norwegian Christian Democrats; and Rafał Dzięciołowski, national assistant to MEP Małgorzata Gosiewska. Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the Lithuanian Christian Democrats, and Václav Pláteník, Deputy Chairman of the Czech Christian Democrats, addressed the delegates and guests by video.
On the Belarusian side, the BChD Congress was greeted by Father Heorhi Roy and Father Viachaslau Barok; Pavel Latushka, head of the National Anti-Crisis Management; Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Adviser Franak Viačorka and Diplomatic Adviser Dzianis Kuchynski; Anatol Liabedzka, leader of the United Civic Party, and Yuras Hubarevich, leader of the Movement “For Freedom”; representatives of the Belarusian Popular Front and Mikalai Statkevich’s Social Democrats; Yauhen Vapa, a member of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic; political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich; and others.
In a secret ballot for the position of BChD Chairman, Pavel Seviarynets won with 97% of the vote.
Siarzhuk Verameyenka (90% of the vote), Valer Matskevich (81%), Anatol Mikhnavec (75%), Heorhi Dzmitruk (70%) and Taisiya Kabanchuk (61%) were elected as his deputies.
The delegates also elected a 30-member National Council and adopted a number of decisions and resolutions.
All participants noted the good organisation and inspiring atmosphere at the Congress.
“The unification of BChD is an important step towards the unity of the entire democratic movement,” Pavel Seviarynets said after his election. “Our main task now is to prepare to return to Belarus with victory.”
