On the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, as the Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, and the Political Secretary of State of Finland, Pasi Rajala.
Following the meetings, Finland announced an additional €100,000 in aid to Belarusians affected by repression: political prisoners, released prisoners, and their families. The funds will be channeled through the International Humanitarian Fund, which works with vetted partner organizations to provide financial, legal, psychological, and other assistance to people affected by repression.
This is Finland’s second contribution to the International Humanitarian Fund. This aid is particularly important amid recent releases: on September 16, 25 political prisoners were released from Belarusian prisons and taken to Lithuania.
Minister Valtonen, State Secretary Rajala, and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also discussed further efforts to secure the release of political prisoners, the security situation in Belarus, and the risks of Belarus becoming further involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine. In her meeting with Mr. Rajala, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also raised the concerns of Belarusians living in Finland, including expired passports, documentation, and legal stay conditions.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I appreciate Finland’s consistent solidarity with Belarusians. It is particularly important that this support translates into practical assistance for people — political prisoners, those who have been released, and the families of those affected by repression. We must be prepared for further releases in advance so that anyone leaving prison can immediately receive the support they need”.
