Visit to the United States. On March 22, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet started their visit to the US to discuss the issues of political prisoners and support for Belarusian culture with American politicians and experts, as well as take part in a number of events. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the Kalinowski conference in Washington. She also visited Boston – you can read the overview of the visit to the city.
Freedom Day / International Solidarity Day. On Freedom Day, March 25, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Belarusians and congratulated them on the holiday. The Office team also released a website covering ways to celebrate the holiday within Belarus as well as around the world.
Education for Belarusians. The Education and Science Office team, headed by Tatiana Shchyttsova, released a new issue of the Asveta digest, which compiles the development in education in Belarus and international opportunities for Belarusians.
Draft law in Lithuania. On March 21, the Lithuanian Seimas in the first reading approved a draft law that prohibits citizens of Russia and Belarus from applying for citizenship, as well as buying real estate, in view of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's advisor on legal issues Kristina Rikhter explained the implications for Belarusian citizens and the Office’s efforts to ensure the legal rights of Belarusians.
UN Report on Belarus. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presented a report on the human rights situation in Belarus during and after the 2020 presidential campaign. Kristina Rikhter commented on the document.
Moscow Mechanism. On March 23, the Permanent Representative of Canada to the OSCE delivered a joint statement from the delegations of 38 countries on the invocation of the Moscow Mechanism for Belarus. Kristina Rikhter explained what the Moscow Mechanism is and how it will impact Belarus.
Voices of Belarus. Radio Liberty journalists released the third volume of “Voices of Belarus”, compiling the opinions of Belarusian political prisoners, protesters, and other Belarusians. For the presentation of the book, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya voiced a horrifying story of the Belarusan resistance.
Office volunteers. Volunteers of the Office had a meeting with Anton Radniankou, Head of the Communications Department of the Coordination Council and Director of the Center for New Ideas. They discussed the recent reforms of the Coordination Council, its work, and its interaction with Belarusians.
Statements. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the situation with the shortage of employees in Belarus and the regime's “attempts” to solve this problem.
Media. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayaya was interviewed by PBS (USA), Harvard Gazette (USA), MSNBC (USA), Wall Street Journal (USA), and DW (International).
Panel discussion. On March 30, the Research Center of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Oxford Belarus Observatory will hold a webinar, “Repressions and cultural resistance: How to help Belarusians fight cultural oppression?” The experts will include Alina Koushyk, Tatsiana Astrouskaya, Yuliya Tsimafeyeva, and Siarhei Budkin. To participate, register at the link.
