FIRST CASE OF A BELARUSIAN REMOVED FROM THE INTERPOL DATABASE
For several years, the Lukashenka regime has tried to use Interpol as a tool of political persecution. This week saw the first case of a Belarusian citizen removed from the Interpol database, thanks to the work of the Legal Team of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office.
STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CALL WITH LUKASHENKA
This week, a phone call took place between United States President Donald Trump and Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a statement following the conversation: “President Trump made this call for an important humanitarian mission – to free our people and stop the repression. It is an attempt to save the lives of innocent people and achieve systemic change in Belarus. Unfortunately, experience shows that Lukashenka cannot be trusted. We must look at actions, not words”.
PRESENTATION OF THE GROUPS “FOR A DEMOCRATIC BELARUS” IN KRAKÓW
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation and Constitutional Reform, Anatoli Liabedzka, visited Kraków, meeting with the local Belarusian diaspora. He commented on the meeting: “The trip to Kraków is part of the work to establish Belarus groups in local governments”.
STATEMENT ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF BYSOL
BYSOL is a foundation that supports initiatives helping repressed and affected Belarusians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated its team on the fifth anniversary of their work: “Your work is a testament to Belarusian solidarity. Over these years, you have shown that even in the most difficult conditions, it is possible to do what truly matters for Belarusians. Your experience, dedication, and willingness to help have given strength to people facing the toughest challenges.Thank you to the team and to everyone who continues to support one another!”
COMMENT ON THE REGIME’S NEW METHOD OF REPRESSION
Some Belarusians in exile have received letters requiring them to report to migration offices in Belarus to renew expired passports. Failure to comply is met with threats of fines. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, commented on this development: “This is yet more proof that persecution does not stop, neither beyond Belarus nor with time”.
COMMENT ON THE DECLINE IN INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN BELARUS
According to Belstat, the number of individual entrepreneurs in Belarus has decreased by 15,000. Economists from the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya examined the causes of this decline and assessed its broader implications for the Belarusian economy.
ADDRESS ON MIKALAI STATKEVICH’S BIRTHDAY
Mikalai Statkevich, a Belarusian politician and activist sentenced to 14 years in prison and currently held incommunicado, marked his birthday this week. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released an address: “It is precisely thanks to people with such qualities that Belarus lives and holds hope for a free future. His work did not go unnoticed. It inspired entire generations of Belarusians who continue to follow in his footsteps. We must continue our work so that Mikalai and all political prisoners can return home”.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to TVP info (Poland), The Telegraph (UK), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (International), Radyio Svaboda (Belarus), CEPA (International), and Dozhd (Russia).
