HUMAN RIGHTS HEARING IN CANADA
On April 13, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in a hearing at the Parliament of Canada on the global human rights situation and addressed Canadian MPs and officials with proposals to:
- continue pressure on the regime: maintain a firm stance and work toward the release of all political prisoners and an end to repression;
- continue and increase support for Belarusian civil society, democratic forces, cultural initiatives, and independent media; Canada could also support the International Humanitarian Fund;
- support efforts to hold the regime accountable both for repression and for its complicity in Russia’s war and the forced displacement of Ukrainian children to Belarus;
- assist Belarusians in Canada: create simplified residency mechanisms and ban extradition to Belarus;
- help raise the issue of transnational repression at the UN and OSCE to prevent dictators from abusing international mechanisms (including Interpol) for political persecution;
- strengthen relations with the democratic forces and the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus.
MEETING WITH SECRETARY GENERAL MATHIEU MORI
On April 16, the Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Mathieu Mori, held a meeting in Vilnius with the democratic forces of Belarus.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office (Dzianis Kuchynski, Anatoli Liabedzka, Pavel Tereshkovich), the United Transitional Cabinet (Volha Zazulinskaya, Yuliya Mitskevich), and Volnyja (Veranika Stankevich). Dzianis Kuchynski, on behalf of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, thanked Mathieu Mori for his consistent support and cooperation with the democratic forces of Belarus.
SEMINAR ON CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REFORM
On April 13, a seminar titled “Reform of the Constitutional Court in Belarus: the Estonian Experience” took place in Tallinn.
The event brought together the Chair of the Parliamentary Group “For a Democratic Belarus”, Urmas Reinsalu, in Estonia, representatives of the Estonian Ministry of Justice, and Belarusian experts. Representing the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya were Parliamentary Cooperation Advisor Anatoli Liabedzka and Representative in Estonia and Latvia Vitali Malchanau.
EXPERT CLUB MEETING
On April 15, the Expert Club of the European Dialogue Center hosted a new discussion in Vilnius, dedicated to the role of the Coordination Council within the democratic forces. Representatives of political parties and initiatives took part in the discussion.
Participants discussed the upcoming Coordination Council election and the political parties’ attitudes toward it, as well as the need for reform and further development of the Council.
MEETINGS IN THE ESTONIAN PARLIAMENT
During a visit to Estonia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, held a series of meetings in the Riigikogu.
During talks with MPs, including the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Marko Mihkelson, they discussed strengthening the “For a Democratic Belarus” Group, internship opportunities for young Belarusians, and support for political prisoners.
DESIGNATION OF EHU AS AN EXTREMIST ORGANIZATION
On April 14, the Supreme Court of Belarus designated the European Humanities University as an “extremist organization”, putting the safety of thousands of students and faculty at risk.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, released a statement: “We are seeing the regime deliberately distort basic concepts: education, academic freedom, and international cooperation are being labeled as threats to the state. Claims about alleged ‘financing of radical groups’, ‘links to terrorist organizations’, and ‘training youth to seize power’ are not supported by any evidence and are plainly absurd”.
The Director of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius, Dzianis Kuchynski, met with the EHU Rector, Vilius Šadauskas. He expressed support on behalf of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and noted that the decision is a serious blow to the academic community and freedom of education. He also stressed that the Office is ready to cooperate with the EHU leadership and international partners to find solutions that would allow the university to continue its work despite pressure from the regime in Belarus.
5TH CONFERENCE OF THE BELARUSIAN DIASPORA
On May 1–2, Warsaw will host the 5th Conference of the Belarusian Diaspora. This year, the program focuses on the issues most important to Belarusians abroad: shared identity, practical diaspora experience, cooperation, and finding common solutions.
COORDINATION COUNCIL ELECTION
On May 11–17, an election will be held for the fourth convocation of the Coordination Council — a platform where Belarusians can influence collective decisions and the future of the country. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on Belarusians to vote in the election and thanked everyone who continues to support Belarus, speak out, and take action.
NEW “AS IS” EPISODE
In the recent episode of “As Is” on YouTube, Anatoli Liabedzka analyzed recent political developments in Belarus and internationally and reflected on sanctions, negotiations, and strategies for the release of political prisoners.
MEDIA
El Mundo (Spain), El Confidencial (Spain), La Presse (Italy), Le Devoir (Canada), Le Devoir (Canada), RTVE (Spain), TVN24 (Poland), UpNorth (Nordic countries).
