5 years of Legal Team’s work: What are the results?

A few days ago, we summed up the achievements of the democratic forces in international advocacy. Today, it’s time to look at the progress in the legal field. The Legal Team of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya shares the key results of its work.

Over the past five years, we have developed numerous legal decisions and initiatives that serve the interests of all Belarusians. These developments are the foundation for a future democratic state built on the principles of the rule of law, justice, and respect for human rights. Our results reflect the collective efforts and support of numerous partners who are helping prepare Belarus for positive change and working to protect people’s rights today.

1. 1. Lustration Concept for Belarus
      We brought together about 30 Belarusian and international experts who met weekly for three months to develop a comprehensive approach to lustration. The concept outlines mechanisms for cleansing the state apparatus of individuals involved in political repression and human rights violations. It is a key document for restoring public trust in state institutions in a free Belarus.
   2. Concept of Restitution for Victims of Repression
      We developed a document that defines the principles and mechanisms for restoring rights and compensating citizens affected by political repression. The concept includes both financial compensation and non-material forms of restoring justice, including rehabilitation and the restoration of one’s good name.
   3. Working Group under the Polish Ministry of the Interior
      Thanks to cooperation with Kristina Rikhter and the Belarusian Solidarity Center, an official working group was established under the Polish Ministry of the Interior, enabling systematic addressing of issues related to legal stay, residence permits, and protection of Belarusian refugees in Poland. As a result, Belarusians can now also receive Polish travel documents free of charge.
   4. Luxembourg Solutions
      We initiated the development of a policy guide containing political recommendations and proposals on issues affecting Belarusians in exile. These include legal entry and residence in the EU, threats to freedom of movement, denial of consular services, access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship, as well as the preservation and development of Belarusian cultural identity. Joint efforts by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and civil society continue to implement the proposals outlined in this document.
   5. Contact Group with the Council of Europe
      At our initiative, a Contact Group was formed to unite Belarus’ democratic forces and bodies of the Council of Europe. This provided direct communication and an opportunity to influence international decisions on Belarus. Thanks to the work of the Contact Group, dozens of lawyers and attorneys have gained access to training on Council of Europe standards, and some have been able to undertake long-term internships within Council of Europe institutions.
   6. Strategic Dialogue with the United States
      The Legal Team actively participated at all stages of the Dialogue, including drafting legal positions and proposals that are taken into account in the US policy on Belarus. For example, a common position was agreed on issues such as the release of political prisoners, sanctions pressure, and accountability for gross human rights violations.
   7. Strategic Consultations with the United Kingdom
      During the Strategic Consultations between the government of the United Kingdom and the democratic forces of Belarus, we joined working groups and helped prepare recommendations for the UK government to ensure support for Belarusian society and increase international pressure on the regime.
   8. Advocacy during the Civil Society Review of Belarus’ Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
      We included human rights and the rule of law in international reporting on the SDGs to bring visibility to political repression in the global agenda. We prevented regime representatives from using UN platforms to claim that Belarus is doing well on the rule of law, gender equality, and education. Today, neither the UN nor the international community has any illusions about the regime’s policies and its attitude toward rights and freedoms.
   9. Advancing Mechanisms of Universal Jurisdiction and International Accountability
      The Legal Team worked closely with foreign prosecutors and NGOs to facilitate the opening of criminal cases against those responsible for the regime’s crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Such cases are currently under investigation in Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and several other countries. These crimes have no statute of limitations in most jurisdictions, and we are confident that sooner or later, the perpetrators will be held accountable.
   10. Campaign to Block the Lukashenka Regime’s Access to Interpol
       We conducted broad international advocacy, resulting in reduced opportunities for the regime to misuse Interpol for the politically motivated persecution of Belarusians in exile.
   11. Hundreds and Thousands of Requests from Belarusian Citizens
       Over the past five years, we have processed thousands of requests from Belarusians facing threats, persecution, or legal issues in various countries. This direct support has become the foundation of trust in our team. 
   12. Human Rights Work within the UN System
       The Legal Team has actively used the UN system to defend Belarusians’ rights. We have prepared and submitted reports and communications to UN Special Procedures, including the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus and other thematic rapporteurs (on torture, freedom of expression, independence of judges and lawyers). We are currently involved in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process to expose systemic human rights violations in Belarus on the global stage. The issues of political repression and lawlessness in Belarus have been included in the agendas of the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. In cooperation with human rights organizations, we have also systematically worked to advocate for and help create and preserve the International Group of Experts to investigate post-election human rights violations in Belarus. It was this group that first stated at the international level that actions during and after the 2020 election may qualify as crimes against humanity.
   13. Systematic Work in OSCE Platforms
       The Legal Team has actively engaged with institutions of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), including the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). We submitted legal opinions and analytical materials to facilitate international assessments of the human rights situation and the rule of law in Belarus, including within the framework of two Moscow Mechanisms. Our involvement helped document and officially recognize systemic violations by the regime and reinforced coordination of international efforts to support Belarusian civil society and protect those affected by repression. As a result of this work, the International Accountability Platform for Belarus was established with the support of OSCE participating states. The platform has collected thousands of testimonies of crimes committed against Belarusians, including international crimes. It serves as a factual evidence base for future legal proceedings to hold regime representatives and their accomplices accountable.

Each of these initiatives is not only the result of years of work but also a contribution to the future of Belarus – one governed by the rule of law, justice, and respect for human rights. The Legal Team of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues its work to bring that day closer.

And Finally, What is Our Strength?

This entire volume of work isn’t just about legal concepts or international phrasing. It’s about people. About Belarusians living inside the country, who breathe the atmosphere of fear and pressure every day, yet continue to maintain their dignity, support each other, and believe in change. Every one of our initiatives, every drafted policy, every international report is a tool to defend their rights and help ensure they are not left one-on-one with a repressive system. We know for certain that the main frontline of this struggle lies not in the halls of international organizations, but in the hearts and lives of people inside Belarus.

At the same time, we remember the more than one million Belarusians who have fled their homeland. We are also working to find ways to protect them and ensure they can live safely outside the country. Because no matter where a person is – in Minsk or Warsaw, in Mahilioŭ or Vilnius – they remain part of the Belarusian people. We work so that Belarusians all over the world can study, work, move freely, build their future, and stay connected.

This work never stops, not for a single day or hour. We, the Legal Team of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, are working 24/7 so that as many Belarusians as possible receive protection, justice, and a chance for a free life in their own country. We know what we are doing it for. And we will not stop until Belarus becomes a free, just, and lawful state for all its citizens.