VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES
From September 22 to 25, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paid a working visit to the United States, holding a number of important meetings. During the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, she met with:
- President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel;
- President of Finland, Alexander Stubb;
- President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa;
- United States Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg;
- EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir;
- Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever;
- President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Beate Meinl-Reisinger;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radosław Sikorski;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlić Radman;
- President of the European Council, António Costa;
- Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Johann Wadephul;
- Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States, Gediminas Varvalis;
- US Congressman Joe Wilson (Republican Party).
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also met with the new President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki. This was her first meeting with the country’s new head of state after he assumed office.
The EU Delegation to the UN, in partnership with Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, hosted a roundtable discussion on accountability and the rule of law in Belarus. More than 40 representatives of the foreign ministries of Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Iceland, Germany, and other countries participated. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya delivered a speech in which she proposed supporting Lithuania’s referral of the regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court, holding an Arria-formula meeting at the UN Security Council, adopting a resolution in the UN Third Committee, and supporting the work of human rights defenders, the International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB), and the International Humanitarian Fund. The meeting also featured presentations of the iSANS report on transnational repression in Belarus, the Red Paper on Europe–Belarus security, and the BelPol report on the regime’s complicity in the war against Ukraine.
In New York, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also attended the WPL Future Positive Reception, held for the 13th time on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and organized by the Women Political Leaders network. The event gathered presidents, ministers, members of parliament, mayors, and WPL ambassadors from around the world to discuss strengthening women’s influence in politics and increasing their representation at all levels of power.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya then took part in the discussion “On the Brink? Is Media Freedom at Risk? A Global Perspective on Press Freedom” at the Concordia Annual Summit 2025 in New York. The conversation focused on the challenges facing independent media amid pressure on social media, the rise of artificial intelligence, and funding shortages.
On September 25, the Belarusian leader spoke at a meeting at the New York University School of Law, attended by students, faculty, and members of the local Belarusian community. The discussion covered the situation in Belarus, the impact of US policy on the release of political prisoners, and prospects for the region, and included a Q&A session.
At the end of the visit, on September 26, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya delivered the Václav Havel Lecture at the University of Chicago, where she also met with the local Belarusian community, university leadership, and faculty deans. The Václav Havel Lecture is held annually – last year, it was delivered by the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s lecture was titled “The Power of the Powerless: Standing Against Tyranny in Belarus”. The event was attended by more than 300 people, including students and representatives of the academic community.
In addition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the ceremony where the Disturbing the Peace Award to a Courageous Writer at Risk was awarded to Maksim Znak. The award is presented annually by the Václav Havel Library Foundation in New York and honors writers and artists who demonstrate courage in defending truth and freedom. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya noted: “By honoring Maksim today, we honor every Belarusian who refused to surrender”.
SECOND CONGRESS ON POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BELARUS
The Second Congress on Political Prisoners in Belarus #WithoutJustCause began in Warsaw on September 26. Participants, including international partners, discussed how joint efforts inside the country and at the international level can help achieve the release of prisoners and put an end to repression.
Day One’s program included four panels:
- The Human Rights Situation in Belarus in 2025: New Trends and Challenges. Life after Prison;
- Vulnerable Groups among Political Prisoners. Life in Prison;
- Work of Belarus’ Democratic Forces, Foreign Politicians, and NGOs on the Release and Support of Political Prisoners;
- Needs of the NGO Sector Working with (Former) Political Prisoners and Their Families. Tools. International Humanitarian Fund.
Diplomats from the United States, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada took part in the event.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered closing remarks on Day One of the Congress, thanking Belarusians for their solidarity and support.
On September 27, the #67VolnyDzen Festival took place in Warsaw as part of the Congress.
Day Two of the Congress took place in Poznań on September 28. Discussions centered on the support still lacking for victims of the regime and on how to accurately present the issue of political prisoners in the media. Particular emphasis was placed on documenting the experience of political imprisonment and recording evidence of torture.
POLAND–BELARUS BORDER REOPENING
On September 23, Poland reopened its border with Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a statement: “I am pleased that passenger connections between Belarus and Poland will be restored. We are grateful to the Polish side, with which the Office has remained in close contact over the past weeks. It is evident that Poland has had to act in response to provocations by the Lukashenka regime. And it is Belarusians who suffer the most as a result of these provocations”.
STATEMENT BY UN INDEPENDENT EXPERTS ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MIKALAI STATKEVICH
On September 23, UN independent experts issued a statement regarding the disappearance of Mikalai Statkevich, confirming there are solid grounds to believe that the Belarusian politician has become a victim of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention. The experts stressed that the regime is obliged to immediately disclose the truth about his fate, whereabouts, and health condition. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, noted: “We insist that the regime must promptly provide information about the fate of Mikalai Statkevich and put an end to the practice of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and politically motivated persecution”.
TRAINING COURSE ON EUROPEAN EQUALITY STANDARDS
A training course on European standards of equality and anti-discrimination for representatives of Belarus’ democratic forces and civil society concluded in Strasbourg on September 24. Over the course of several months, activists, lawyers, journalists, and researchers studied the practices against racism and intolerance implemented by the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, and the European Commission. During the final event, participants presented new materials, including a Belarusian-language glossary of key concepts in the field of equality and non-discrimination.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews and comments to BBC News (International), Current Time (International), DR (Denmark), New York Times (US), New to The Street TV (International), and La Stampa (1, 2) (Italy).
