During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard. She thanked the organization for its campaigns for the release of Maryia Kalesnikava and other political prisoners, noting that this work helped keep the issue of political prisoners in Belarus on the international agenda over the years.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the releases of political prisoners, highlighted the role of the United States, and called for continued efforts to secure the release of all political prisoners and to put an end to repression. The parties discussed a new campaign in support of political prisoners, as well as possible joint events involving those who have been released, so they can share their stories and draw attention to the issue of repression and political imprisonment.
Ms. Callamard and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also discussed the potential campaign against transnational repression, including the challenges faced by Belarusians in exile, such as persecution through Interpol and difficulties with documents and passports. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed hope for Amnesty International’s support in advocating on this issue – in particular, in ending the practice whereby authoritarian regimes pursue Belarusians in third countries by exploiting intergovernmental agreements so that Belarusians can feel safe regardless of where they are.
The sides agreed to hold a series of joint events and awareness campaigns with the participation of human rights defenders, as well as to organize advocacy visits by released political prisoners to various countries.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Thank you to Amnesty International for its campaigns in support of political prisoners, in particular for solidarity with Maryia and my husband, Siarhei. But we must fight for the release of everyone else and for an end to arbitrary arrests and repression. This is our priority”.
