SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS. On March 11-14, the European Parliament held a campaign of solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, attended one of the events within the framework of the campaign. As the politician said, as part of the #EPSTANDSBYYOU initiative, members of the European Parliament, including President Roberta Metsola, signed more than 600 postcards for political prisoners in Belarus. In addition, MEPs raised awareness about the dire situation with political prisoners in Belarus and shared information about it on social media with the hashtag #EPSTANDSBYYOU.
MEETING WITH BI-2. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Bi-2 band in Vilnius. The musicians thanked the democratic leader for her support in their release from a Thai prison. In response, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya expressed words of gratitude from Belarusians for the band’s outspoken anti-war position and asked them not to forget their roots and homeland. The musicians shared that they had intended to perform at the protests in 2020 but didn’t manage to. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya asked them whether the musicians would perform after the victory in Minsk, to which they said yes. At the invitation of the band’s frontmen, Lyova and Shura, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stayed for the concert, and the musicians greeted Belarusians from the stage.
CONSTITUTION DAY. On March 15, when Constitution Day is celebrated in Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians: “During its years in power, the regime has devalued the basic law just as much as the national currency. That’s why today the talk about the triumph of democracy in the country is as false as the recent sham election or propaganda narratives about a prosperous “socially oriented” economy. Belarus needs to have a working Constitution, which protects people and does not turn them into hostages of the system. That is why we have proposed our vision of the Constitution, which guarantees the observance of rights and freedoms for Belarusians”. She also called on Belarusians to join the public discussion of the Constitution and draft laws to complement it.
CONFERENCE IN LITHUANIAN SEIMAS. On March 15, the Seimas of Lithuania hosted a conference titled “Investments in the Long-term Future of Democratic Belarus: Key Reform Strategies”. It discussed the Constitution of New Belarus and six draft laws designed to complement and develop it. The event gathered approximately 70 participants. The Belarusian leader spoke at the opening of the conference: “There are over two thousand political prisoners in Belarus. And I think the Constitution is one of them. The Constitution is prisoner number one. It became the regime’s first victim. Lukashenka didn’t just trample on our Constitution, he violated it and put it behind bars”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, also commented on the conference and its results: “During the conference, we presented six draft laws to complement and develop the Constitution. After their elaboration, the documents will be handed over to the United Transitional Cabinet, and after the election – to the Coordination Council of the new convocation. In this way, we are creating a stable legal framework for the new Belarus, so that after the democratic transition of power, the new government can carry out political reforms as soon as possible”.
SUPPORT FOR BELARUSIANS. On March 12, the Court of Appeal in Belgrade overturned the earlier decision on the extradition of filmmaker and activist, Andrei Hniot, to Belarus and referred the case for a new hearing to the High Administrative Court in Belgrade. The Office’s Legal Department will continue to closely follow Andrei’s case and will be in constant communication with lawyers and the diplomatic corps.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Kristina Rikhter, hopes for a positive outcome in the case: “I am very grateful to the diplomatic corps of the European Union countries in Belgrade. The ambassadors of several countries responded very quickly to our lawyers’ request for assistance – and organized both negotiations at the diplomatic level and attendance at the appeal court hearing, thus expressing their solidarity with Andrei”.
CONGRESS OF EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY. The Belarusian leader spoke online at the Congress of the European Democratic Party in Florence, Italy, which brought together about 1,000 delegates from different countries of the world. “We really need support for our repressed, for those who continue to fight on the ground, for the media. The regime must be isolated, but don’t isolate the people. Issue visas and open the borders for Belarusians, as democratic countries did during the Cold War. It is sad to see some countries discussing restrictions against Belarusians. Ban the regime, not the people”, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized.
CONFERENCE OF BELARUSIAN DIASPORA. The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the United Transitional Cabinet, the Office of Democratic Forces of Belarus in the Czech Republic, and the People’s Embassies of Belarus continue to prepare for the 3rd Conference of the Belarusian Diaspora, which will be held on March 23-24 in Prague. The organizing team, joined by a representative of the Coordination Council, has already formed the program and will soon announce the names of speakers.
During the conference, Belarusians will consider and solve topical issues and problems of our community. This year’s panel discussions will focus on the following issues: 1) Strategic vision of the Belarusian democratic community and the role of the Belarusian diaspora for 2024-2025; 2) The role of the Belarusian diaspora in Belarus–Ukraine relations; 3) Strengthening the potential of the broad Belarusian diaspora.
STRATEGY OF THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW BELARUS. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s team continues to share the details of the New Belarus Transition Strategy, developed by the Office team together with the United Transition Cabinet, the Coordination Council, and numerous experts. This week, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s team released an article explaining how the changes outlined in the Strategy will affect key areas of society.
BELARUS-LITHUANIA. On March 11, the Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Lithuania, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated the Lithuanian people: “Congratulations to Lithuania on the Day of Restoration of Independence! Your fight for sovereignty inspires us and reminds us of the value of freedom that we all strive to achieve. We Belarusians deeply appreciate Lithuania’s support in our own fight for independence and human rights. We wish Lithuania peace and prosperity”.
UN RESOLUTION ON BELARUS. Lawyers of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and Belarusian human rights defenders held negotiations with delegations at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in support of the resolution on Belarus, which may be adopted this month.
EDUCATION. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, commented on the proposal by the BSU Lyceum director, Tatiana Mamchyts, to name the lyceum after a Soviet politician involved in mass repressions, Felix Dzerzhinsky: “It is very telling that the regime proposes to name no less than the BSU Lyceum after the founder of the Cheka. Until 2020, the lyceum was the most advanced educational institution in the country – partly because it was the most free from the control of various government agencies. The long-standing atmosphere of intellectual freedom, creativity, and mutual respect among lyceum students, teachers, and administration made it a truly unique educational institution – and a unique community. The regime thus sends a symbolic message that defines its cynical and dogmatic approach. What was previously associated with freedom will now be associated with the Cheka founder”.
INTERNATIONAL WORK. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, made working visits to London and Rome, continuing the implementation of the agreements reached during the Belarusian leader’s visits to these capitals last year. The meetings discussed the participation of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and democratic forces in the events of the European Political Community and the G7, as well as a potential resolution on Belarus in the Italian Senate. In addition, the parties talked about ways of broader support for the Belarusian civil society, cultural initiatives, diaspora, and media.
In Strasbourg, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, met with members of the European Parliament. During the meetings, he discussed the creation of parliamentary groups “For a Democratic Belarus” in the national parliaments of Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as possibilities and mechanisms of support for political prisoners in Belarus.
HELP FOR INITIATIVES. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on Belarusians in Lithuania and Poland to support Belarusian initiatives in these countries using their taxes. Many Belarusians reside permanently in Lithuania and Poland, paying taxes in these countries. The laws of these countries allow taxpayers to dedicate some of their taxes to specific organizations. Belarusians can use this opportunity to support Belarusian initiatives. In Poland, 1.5% of the tax amount can be allocated for this purpose, and in Lithuania 1.2%. When filling in the declaration, Belarusians can transfer the already paid taxes to Belarusian organizations. The list of such organizations can be found at the link.
CONVERSATIONS WITH BELARUSIANS. This week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held her traditional talks with Belarusians to discuss the issues they face both in Belarus and abroad.
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to AP (1, 2) (International), Washington Post (USA), BNT (Bulgaria), Tovima (Greece), BelSAT (1, 2) (Belarus), and Die Zeit (Germany).
In addition, the Belarusian leader wrote an op-ed for Eye-to-Eye, where she spoke about one of the main values of European society – democracy. In her article, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasizes the importance of people’s participation in politics and the need to unite in the global fight against tyranny. She also notes that it is much easier to lose democracy than it seems at first glance.
