Mutual assistance and support
– Ms. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the head of National Anti-Crisis Management, Pavel Latushka, held a call with the Workers’ Movement initiative and Belarus Workers Union. The Workers' Movement activists talked about how the strike leaders at Hrodna Azot, Khimvolokno, Naftan, Belarus Railway, Byelorussian Steel Works, and other enterprises had their houses and offices raided and were detained. After the call, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya made a statement on how to resist the recent detentions of workers and called on the people of Belarus to join the Workers’ Movement.
– The Spotlight of Regions project launched by the Office covered the state of healthcare and told about how in a town Marjina Horka, people with suspected COVID-19 have to wait in line to see a doctor in the cold street. Read the coverage here. Everyone is free to share and reprint the content created by Spotlight. Belarusians share information about corruption, wage arrears, bankruptcies, and the overall economic situation in their regions. The project uses a secure and anonymous chatbot that does not collect users’ personal data.
– When will economic pressure have an effect? How to recover the country's economy and carry out reforms? Where to get the funding? Ales Aliakhnovich, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Representative for Economics, explained in an interview to Malanka Media the current state of Belarus’ economy and outlined its prospects: “The regime rigged the elections, beat, tortured and repressed people. It is the only culprit of the sanctions”.
– “Is Tsikhanouskaya going to hold an inauguration?” Siarhej Zikratski, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Representative on Legal Affairs, answered the frequently asked questions about the inauguration. To ask your question, use the chatbot or online form. There is also a separate bot for local and professional communities @dvory_OST_bot.
International Work
– “What does this mean for Belarusians?” Franak Viacorka, Senior Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Dzianis Kuchynski, Senior Foreign Affairs Officer, reviewed Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s working visit to France and shared the out-takes from official releases: contacts with Turkey and the Vatican, tips from economist Sergei Guriev, as well as the Office’s further plans.
– On September 21st, Helsinki Commission held Hearings on justice and freedom in Belarus. They were a continuation of the US policy of supporting the people of Belarus following Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s visit. Siarhej Zikratski; Tatsiana Khomich, Coordination Council representative on political prisoners; and Siargei Kharytonau, iSANS media expert, presented their keynotes and suggestions on how to support independent media and political prisoners, as well as to increase information security and fight propaganda. At such hearings, the policy of the US and Europe towards Belarus is formed. See how Siarhej Zikratski gave testimony or read its full text.
– Valery Kavaleuski, Representative on Foreign Affairs, made a working trip to Washington. It became a continuation of consultations following the July visit of Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Mr. Kavaleuski held negotiations in the Congress, National Security Council, and State Department. At the meetings, the main topics of discussions were the defense of the sovereignty of Belarus, comprehensive assistance to Belarusians, and the elaboration of approaches to fight corruption and circumvention of sanctions by the regime.
Conference of the Belarusian diaspora
– The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a two-day Conference of the Belarusian diaspora. Belarusian diaspora representatives from more than 27 countries and 40 organizations, as well as representatives of the Office, National Anti-Crisis Management, Coordination Council, solidarity funds, and initiatives, discussed how to scale up support for Belarusians within the country, increase economic pressure on the regime, and keep Belarus on the international agenda. See the main areas of work of diaspora on Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s Twitter. Franak Viacorka summed up the brief results of the conference live on Belsat.
– At the Conference, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office presented scenarios of future developments in Belarus, as well as the work plan of the democratic forces.
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), Associated Press, and Belsat. She spoke about the situation in Belarus.
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