On June 10–11, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the Czech Republic to hold meetings with the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senate leadership, the Mayor of Prague, representatives of civil society and the Belarusian diaspora, take part in events, and give interviews to Czech and international media.
The meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petr Macinka, took place at the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in Prague, serving as a symbolic confirmation of the Czech Republic’s support for Belarusian democratic institutions. The discussions focused on visa issues, sanctions, international coordination on holding the Lukashenka regime accountable, and support for Belarusians in exile. Minister Macinka informed Ms. Tsikhanouskaya that the Czech Republic would issue visas to relatives of Belarusians residing in the country.
With President Petr Pavel, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the situation in Belarus, efforts to secure the release of political prisoners, support for Ukraine, sanctions, regional security threats, Russia’s growing influence in Belarus, and possible scenarios for Belarus after Lukashenka. The meeting took place at Prague Castle.
At the Senate, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with Speaker Miloš Vystrčil, addressed the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Security, chaired by Pavel Fischer, and met with Czech senators. The discussion focused on support for the democratic forces of Belarus and aid for political prisoners, further cooperation with Ukraine, and preparations for a post-Lukashenka Belarus.
With Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed cooperation with Belarusian initiatives in Prague, the upcoming Congress of Belarusians of the Czech Republic, and ways to strengthen ties between Belarusian and Czech local communities. She thanked Mayor Svoboda for supporting the Belarusian community and for participating in Freedom Day events.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with Belarusian NGOs in the Czech Republic. Discussions focused on support for Belarusians in exile, challenges related to legal status and documents, and Belarusian cultural and civic presence in the country.
Cultural events played an important role in the program. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya attended a preview of the exhibition “DATAS: The Data and the Sovereign” at the Rudolfinum Gallery, which featured works that explored digital control, surveillance, and the connections between Belarusian and Russian monitoring systems.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya joined the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, Oto Klempíř, to visit the Matter of Art 2026 Biennale, where works by Belarusian artists Rufina Bazlova and Gleb Amankulov were exhibited. She emphasized that culture and national identity remain key factors in preserving the Belarusian nation in the face of repression, exile, and Russification.
The visit concluded with a discussion at the Václav Havel Library, attended by more than 120 participants, including diplomats, experts, representatives of international organizations, and members of the Belarusian diaspora. The discussion focused on political prisoners, Belarus–Ukraine relations, support for Belarusian culture, and Belarus’s European future.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to several leading Czech and international media outlets, including Česká televize, Český rozhlas, Seznam Zprávy, Respekt, Aktuálně.cz, Moravec.cz, and Suspilne (Ukraine). She spoke on the results of her recent visit to Kyiv, cooperation between Ukraine and the democratic forces of Belarus, regional security threats, political prisoners, sanctions, and the future of a democratic Belarus.
