VISIT TO SLOVENIA. On August 28-29, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia. During the forum, the Belarusian leader met with the President of Slovenia, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Foreign Minister of Slovenia, Foreign Minister of Slovakia, Foreign Minister of Canada, and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia. At the meetings, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya talked about the project of a new Belarusian passport and called on countries to support this initiative. She also suggested raising the issue of Belarus at the meetings of the Bucharest Nine and inviting representatives of democratic Belarus to its events. The Belarusian leader called for continued support for Belarusian refugees, independent media, and civil society.
BELARUS-LITHUANIA. President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda did not introduce a bill to the Seimas that could equalize restrictions against Belarusians in line with those against Russians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Senior Advisor Franak Viacorka commented on this decision: “Over the past few weeks, we have had numerous meetings and discussions with Lithuanian politicians, and it seems that our stance has been acknowledged. We will continue our communication with the government and Seimas of Lithuania to look together for a solution that does not harm Belarusians who are not responsible for the regime's crimes”.
KNOWLEDGE DAY. On September 1, Knowledge Day, when the academic year starts in Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed teachers, parents, and schoolchildren. She urged the teachers to keep teaching children to think critically and express their point of view. She went on to call on parents to speak honestly with their kids as even little children are able to understand the world around them. Addressing the students, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya said it is up to them to decide what kind of country they want to live in and what they want the world to be.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Education and Science Tatiana Schyttsova also released an address: “Self-education and informal communication are vital. The Internet provides excellent opportunities for cross-border communication and online learning in various fields. In this regard, the new Belarusian exiled community, including independent media, cultural figures, scientists, and educators, today bears responsibility for creating quality educational online content that would be available to children and youth in Belarus”.
For Knowledge Day, the Office’s education team released a guide with a list of online platforms and YouTube channels to help schoolchildren of all ages in their studies. This guide will not only supplement the educational program but also help children expand their knowledge in various areas.
BANK SECRECY IN BELARUS. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on Lukashenka's decree that gives law enforcement agencies access to the information covered by bank secrecy and legalizes full control over Belarusians' money: “The regime can deem any banking operation “untrustworthy”. Belarusians, please, protect yourselves and your savings: withdraw your entire salary, store your money in cash, and convert rubles into foreign currency. Please take care of your financial security. The regime has enormous control over your lives as it is – do not let it increase even more”.
Kristina Rikhter, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Legal Affairs, also released a statement: “In a democratic society, a judicial procedure is required to gain access to legally protected secrets. This serves as a kind of guarantee against arbitrary actions of law enforcement agencies and unlawful use of this information. Such a system will create a guise of “protection against fraud” and become a tool to further intensify political pressure and terror against Belarusians”.
VISIT TO AUSTRIA. The Belarusian leader spoke at the European Forum Alpbach, Austria. At a panel discussion, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called on the international community to support Belarusians, develop mechanisms to bring the Lukashenka's henchmen to justice and consider including democratic Belarus in European organizations and programs.
CLOSING OF BORDERS. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Senior Advisor Franak Wiachorka commented on the possible closure of the borders between Belarus, Poland, and the Baltic states: “We are in contact with Poland and the Baltic states and insist that cross-border travel between our countries stands for as long as possible. Belarusians must not be isolated because of Lukashenka's thoughtless policies”.
BELARUS-UKRAINE. A delegation of the democratic forces visited Ukraine. It included Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Foreign Affairs, Valery Kavaleuski, and Head of the Mission of Democratic Forces in Ukraine, Henadz Manko. They met with the Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak, as well as members of the Verkhovna Rada. They also handed over a vehicle for the medical unit of the Kastus Kalinouski regiment.
Also this week, Anatoli Liabedzka and Mykhailo Podolyak held a joint live stream on YouTube to discuss the future of Belarus-Ukraine relations, the situation in Belarus, as well as legal issues faced by Belarusians in Ukraine.
MEETING WITH BELARUSIAN BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS. On September 1, representatives of the Association of Belarusian Businesses Abroad (ABBA), Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC), and Imaguru Startup Hub, which are the largest Belarusian NGOs that support and research private Belarusian businesses, visited Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius. The meeting focused on the problems faced by Belarusian businesses in different countries abroad as well as in Belarus.
NOBEL FOUNDATION’S DECISION. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the decision of the Swedish Nobel Foundation to withdraw the invitations to the ambassadors of Lukashenka and Russia to the award ceremony: “It is a sign of solidarity with the Belarusian and Ukrainian people. I see in this decision of the Foundation principled support for the values that it was established to protect. Instead of representatives of the aggressor regimes, I suggest inviting Ales Bialiatski's wife Natalia Pinchuk, as well as representatives of free Belarus to the event”.
PUBLIC OPINION. Last month, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office launched an anonymous online survey to see the opinions of Belarusians on the work of democratic forces: what they are dissatisfied with, which fields of work they support, and what they would like to improve. See the results of the survey at the link.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BELARUSIANS. The Office’s education team released a new issue of the “Asveta” digest, covering international opportunities for Belarusian students and researchers.
