RESPONSE TO THE EXTRADITION OF EX-WARRIOR TO BELARUS
Belarusian citizen Vasil Verameichyk, who previously fought against Russian aggression in Ukraine as part of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, was extradited this week from Vietnam to Belarus. Vasil moved to Ukraine after participating in the 2020 protests in Belarus and became the Deputy Commander of the Volat Battalion after the full-scale invasion in 2022. In 2024, after completing his service, Vasil was elected to the Coordination Council and co-founded the Association of Belarusian Veterans. In Belarus, he faces from 20 years of imprisonment to the death penalty.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office released a statement on Vasil Verameichyk’s extradition from Vietnam: “Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office insists on the urgent need to strengthen international human rights mechanisms to protect not only Belarusians fleeing persecution but also the people defending Europe’s future by fighting alongside Ukraine”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians: “We insist that governments must stop their cooperation with the regime. Many countries still have extradition agreements and cooperate with the special services of Belarus, as does Vietnam”.
A solidarity rally in support of Vasil Verameichyk took place in Vilnius, which representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office also joined.
The OST’s Legal Team released a guide on what Belarusians should do in case of possible deportation.
VISIT TO ESTONIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a working visit to Estonia on November 18-19.
She gave a public lecture titled “Belarus after 2020: Dictatorship vs. European Future” at the Johan Skytte Institute in Tartu. She also participated in the seminar “Is studying history dangerous? The case of Belarus”.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, Minister of Culture, Heidy Purga, and Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets.
In Tallinn, the Belarusian leader opened an exhibition of the Belarusian artist Pan zmiThor, dedicated to Belarus and organized as part of the “Voices Across Borders” movement.
Find photos of the visit at the link.
VISIT TO VIENNA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Vienna on November 20 to attend the Civil Society Summit within the framework of Eastern Partnership. She also joined an event hosted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with the Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, to discuss the release of political prisoners, support for Belarusian artists, migration issues faced by Belarusians in Austria, sanctions against the Lukashenka regime, Belarus in the context of peace talks on Ukraine, and international political support for Belarus’ democratic forces.
Find photos of the visit at the link.
VISIT TO CANADA
On November 21, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her official visit to Canada by meeting with the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, during the Halifax International Security Forum. The parties discussed Lithuania’s referral of the Lukashenka regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court and the potential arrest warrant for Lukashenka.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also met with US senators to discuss Vasil Verameichyk’s situation and the details of an international campaign for his release.
In Montreal, the Belarusian leader addressed the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which gathered over 260 parliamentarians from the Alliance member states and partner countries to discuss the war in Ukraine, NATO’s transformation in response to threats from authoritarian regimes, and a broad range of security challenges faced by the Alliance.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also met with the Belarusian diaspora in Montreal and Toronto.
BELGRADE SECURITY CONFERENCE
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the Belgrade Security Conference, an inclusive platform for discussing pressing security, politics, and international relations issues. The forum aimed to develop practical recommendations through analytical discussions.
“Without democracy, there is no real security. Belarus is a living example of what happens when democracy is lost. When a dictatorship goes unpunished, it becomes a threat not only to its own people but also to its neighbors,” the Belarusian leader stressed in her address.
1000 DAYS OF WAR
November 19 marked 1000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians: “These 1,000 days have shown how much strength lies within people. And each of us can be part of that strength. It doesn’t matter what exactly you do – whether you volunteer, speak the truth, help a neighbor, or simply preserve your humanity in a world where it’s often lacking. Every step and effort contribute to the day when the sky over Ukraine will finally be clear”.
2025 SHAM ELECTION
The democratic forces of Belarus continue preparations for the sham election scheduled for 2025. Alina Kharysava of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office recorded a video addressing the violations already committed during the election campaign in a video.
2020 IMPACT ON EDUCATION IN BELARUS
In an interview with LRT, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, talked about the current situation in education in Belarus and how it has been affected by the aftermath of the 2020 protests.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was interviewed by Delfi (International), Postimees (Estonia), Postimees in Russian (Estonia), ERR (Estonia), ERR in Russian (1, 2) (Estonia), Tartu Postimees (Estonia), and Tartu Postimees in Russian (Estonia).
