ADDRESS ON BELARUSIAN MILITARY GLORY DAY
On September 8, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on the occasion of the Day of Belarusian Military Glory, which marked the anniversary of the Battle of Orsha. She stressed that Belarus must continue to think about its security, its military, and its right to defend itself: “I know that many officers and soldiers in the current Belarusian army stand on Ukraine’s side today and will not allow Belarus to be fully drawn into this criminal war. The Belarusian army must defend Belarus and Belarusians, rather than serve someone else’s imperial ambitions”.
COMMENT ON ANDRZEJ POCZOBUT’S RETURN TO BELARUS
On September 8, former political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut returned to Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on his decision: “Everyone who knows his story understands how much courage lies behind this decision. But we must not conclude from this that anything has changed for everyone in the country. Repression continues. For those at risk of persecution, returning can still be dangerous”.
WELLNESS PROJECT FOR FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS, VOLUNTEER FIGHTERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES
On September 8, a two-week wellness project for former political prisoners, volunteers, and their families began in Italy. Twenty-six people from Belarus and Ukraine are taking part in a special program of rest and recovery. The first such initiative was held in Venice, while the current program is taking place in the picturesque Tuscan countryside.
DIPLOMATIC BRIEFING “RUSSIA’S INFLUENCE ON BELARUSIAN YOUTH”
On September 9, the Representation of Democratic Belarus in Estonia held a briefing on Russia’s militarization of Belarusian youth. It was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, ministries, and state institutions of Estonia.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy, Marharyta Vorykhava, presented data on how Russia, assisted by the Lukashenka regime, is building a system to militarize Belarusian youth. Participants discussed Russia’s recruitment mechanisms, military propaganda, and the risks faced by students.
QUEBEC RULE OF LAW SUMMIT
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, spoke in Montreal at the Quebec Rule of Law Summit, dedicated to the protection of democratic institutions and contemporary challenges facing the rule of law. In his remarks, Mr. Marozau presented the Belarusian experience of a legal system breakdown and spoke about widespread human rights violations and politically motivated persecution in Belarus, political prisoners, and the Lukashenka regime’s attempts to persecute Belarusians beyond the country’s borders.
COMMENT ON THE SENTENCE AGAINST LAWYER DZMITRY LAYEUSKI
On September 10, the Lukashenka regime sentenced lawyer Dzmitry Layeuski to three years in prison for comments to independent media made five years ago. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a statement: “Dzmitry is an incredibly courageous person and a professional lawyer. He made a principled decision to stay at home, in Belarus, because it is his country. Dzmitry always acted strictly within the law, down to the last letter. Let me express my heartfelt support to Dzmitry and his family”.
VISIT TO THE FREE BELARUS MUSEUM
On September 10, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the Free Belarus Museum, where she viewed two exhibitions by contemporary Belarusian artists — “The First Undemocratic Ones” and “Life in Boxes”. She emphasized that culture is what unites Belarusians, called for supporting cultural initiatives, and expressed her gratitude to everyone who creates such projects and helps Belarusians remember who they are.
MEETING WITH VYTIS JURKONIS OF FREEDOM HOUSE
The Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Lithuania, Dzianis Kuchynski, and the Office’s Legal Team met with the Director of Freedom House Vilnius, Vytis Jurkonis. The parties discussed assistance for exiled Belarusians in Lithuania and plans for joint events in the United States and Lithuania. They also addressed preparations for the possible arrival of released political prisoners following the visit of the Special Envoy of the United States, John Coale, to Minsk, as well as their legal status in Lithuania.
MEETINGS WITH LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT’S ADVISOR DONATAS AUGULIS AND SEIMAS DEPUTY SPEAKER VIKTORIJA ČMILYTĖ-NIELSEN
On September 9–10, the Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius, Dzianis Kuchynski, held meetings with the Foreign Affairs Advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Donatas Augulis, and the Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen.
The sides discussed bus connections with Belarus, Lithuanian language courses for Belarusians, preparations for the possible arrival in Lithuania of released political prisoners, support for the European Humanities University, regional and Lithuanian security, Belarus’s ongoing militarization, and Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
MEETING WITH AGNIESZKA POMASKA AND TATIANA TERMACIC OF PACE
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Warsaw with the Second Vice-Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education, and Media, Agnieszka Pomaska, and the Head of the Committee Secretariat, Tatiana Termacic. The meeting took place as part of the preparation of the PACE report “Addressing Culture as a Foundation for the Democratization of Belarus”. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked the PACE for making Belarusian culture a separate area of the Assembly’s work.
CONFERENCE ON CZECH EASTERN POLICY 2026
On September 8–9, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, visited Prague to take part in the Conference on Czech Eastern Policy, where he spoke at a panel discussion on Ukraine’s recovery alongside Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, and representatives of the Czech Republic and Estonia.
His key message was that Ukraine’s recovery and security are directly linked to Belarus’s future. A democratic Belarus should become a secure northern neighbor of Ukraine, rather than a Russian military foothold.
EXPERT DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE ETHICS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
On September 8, an expert roundtable on public service ethics and combating corruption was held in Tallinn, bringing together experts, representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, and political parties, as well as Estonian and international specialists. The outcomes of the discussion will be used to develop a future legislation concept in this area for Belarus.
2ND EUROPEAN CONFERENCE FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY
On September 12, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the 2nd European Conference for Freedom and Democracy in Ventotene at the invitation of the Vice President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, who organized the conference. The event brought together European politicians, journalists, intellectuals, and civil society activists to discuss countering authoritarianism, supporting Ukraine, European security, and protecting civil rights. In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for continued support for Ukraine, pressure on the Lukashenka regime, and efforts to secure the release of all political prisoners.
MEDIA
Belsat (Belarus), Euronews Romania, Euronews Romania.
