RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
The release of several political prisoners from Belarusian colonies was announced this week, including Ryhor Kastusiou, who has cancer. Most of the 15 released political prisoners were nearing the end of their sentences. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a statement calling for seeking freedom for all political prisoners.
VISIT TO LATVIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Latvia, traveling to Daugavpils, Cēsis, and Riga. She met with Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss security issues, the legalization of stay in Latvia for Belarusians, and sanctions against the regime. Following Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit, Daugavpils University announced new financing for Belarusians. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also opened an exhibition by Belarusian artist Volha Yakubouskaya and attended the LAMPA Festival, where she spoke about Belarus’ relations with the Baltic and Nordic countries.
CELEBRATION OF JULY 3 IN BELARUS
On the occasion of July 3, when the regime celebrates its version of Belarus’ Independence Day, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on how the Lukashenka regime exploits World War II for its political purposes: “This day should be associated with freedom, dignity, and equality. But the regime’s cynical performances distort and devalue the Belarusian tragedy of World War II”. On July 3, the regime “reenacted a genocide act”.
STATEHOOD DAY IN LITHUANIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the flag-raising ceremony in Vilnius in honor of Mindaugas’s Coronation Day. The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, and the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, spoke at the ceremony. Alar Karis mentioned Belarus in his speech, expressing hope that Belarus would soon hear a true national anthem. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Belarusian diaspora in Vilnius, and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked the Belarusians who came to the ceremony with Belarus’ national flags.
AMENDMENTS IN BELARUS EDUCATION LEGISLATION
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, released a statement emphasizing the need for reforms in education and noting that the regime’s proposed amendments to education legislation limit the academic and professional freedoms of young people.
A YEAR WITHOUT REPORTS FROM SIARHEI TSIKHANOUSKI
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the incommunicado detention of her husband. She expressed deep sorrow as she hadn’t heard from her husband in more than a year. She called on Belarusians to support the families of political prisoners and do everything possible to secure the release of all unjustly imprisoned individuals.
NEW BELARUS CONFERENCE
The New Belarus Conference 2024 will take place in Vilnius on August 3-4. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office prepared a preliminary program for the event. Applications for participation can be submitted here.
ALIAKSANDR MILINKEVICH
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on the Implementation of the European Choice of Belarus, Aliaksandr Milinkievich, gave an extensive interview to Nasha Niva’s TOK. He expressed the view that the Belarusian society has always underestimated the threat from Russia and that positive changes in Belarus are impossible under Lukashenka’s dictatorship.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was interviewed by VOA (China), Alexandre Guerreiro (Portugal), RUS LSM, and Latvian Radio 4 (Latvia). She also spoke to AP (International) and Razam’s #TeenPress (Belarus) project.
