UKRAINE RECOVERY CONFERENCE
On June 25, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was in Gdańsk, where the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 took place — an international conference dedicated to the reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine. The forum brought together heads of state and government, international financial institutions, business representatives, civil society, and Ukraine’s partners from around the world.
Discussions focused on security, support for Ukraine, and Belarus’s role in the region, particularly in light of recent developments in Belarus–Ukraine relations and President Zelenskyy’s warning to the Lukashenka regime.
LECTURE AT THE KRAKÓW UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS
On June 22, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a lecture titled “Building a Nation from Exile” at the Kraków University of Economics. Students and university representatives attended the event. The lecture was followed by an extensive discussion on Belarus’s future, democratic institutions, the challenges of exile, and preparations for democratic change.
SPEECH AT THE COLLEGE OF EUROPE
On June 22, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the graduating class of the College of Europe in Natolin (Warsaw), one of Europe’s most prestigious educational institutions, which trains future European diplomats, civil servants, and political leaders. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the future of Belarus and Europe, Russia’s war against Ukraine, Belarus’s role in European security, and the responsibility of the new generation of Europeans to defend democracy. She placed particular emphasis on Belarus’s role in the architecture of European security.
BRIEFING FOR IRISH REPRESENTATIVES IN VILNIUS
On June 22, a briefing for Irish representatives on the work of Belarusian democratic forces and civil society organizations took place in Vilnius. Ireland was represented by its Ambassador to Lithuania, Seadhna MacHugh.
Representatives of the NGOs presented their work and outlined their current needs across a range of areas. These included cooperation with people inside Belarus, support for independent media and civic initiatives, cultural projects, and new opportunities for Belarusian youth.
MEETING WITH ANDRZEJ DUDA
On June 23, the former President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, welcomed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to his new office in Kraków. The parties discussed the situation in Belarus and Ukraine, relations with the United States, the releases of political prisoners, and possible scenarios for ending the war. Andrzej Duda noted that his office in Kraków will always be open to Belarusian events and that Belarusians can continue to count on his support.
MEETING WITH LECH WAŁĘSA
On June 25, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Gdańsk with the legendary leader of Poland’s Solidarity movement, former President of Poland, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked Mr. Wałęsa for his many years of support for Belarusians and noted that the experience of the Polish Solidarity movement continues to inspire Belarus’s democratic movement.
CONCEPT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR REPRESSION IN BELARUS
The Concept for Accountability for Repression in Belarus was presented, outlining how serious human rights violations committed after 2020 could be investigated in a future democratic Belarus. It addresses the role of victims, the preservation of evidence, the right to truth and reparations, and national and international mechanisms for holding perpetrators accountable.
ADDRESS ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
On June 26, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. She stressed the systematic use of torture in Belarus, called for holding the regime accountable for its crimes, and noted that what is happening in Belarusian prisons must never be accepted as normal.
OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN EDUCATION AND SCIENCE: MAY 2026
An overview was released of developments in education and science that took place in May, both in Belarus and in exile. A new state commission was established to rewrite textbooks on humanities and social sciences, 10th-grade students were sent to military training camps, a state register of private tutors was announced, repression in academia continued, and the number of state-funded university places for Russian applicants was reduced. More details are available in the full overview.
MEDIA
Kyiv Channel (Ukraine), PAP (Poland), Novyny.Live (Ukraine), Belsat (Belarus), Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), Radio Krakow (Poland), Krakow TVP (Poland), BBC, Moravec (the Czech Republic).
