– The democratic forces announced the launch of the operational headquarters against the illegitimate referendum. The initiative came from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Coordination Council (CC), National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), Voice platform, union of Belarusian security officers BYPOL, Honest people initiative, and Zubr movement.
They held a joint public press conference (see the key points). Contact [email protected], or use the OST or partners' chat-bots for more information.
– The democratic forces issued a joint statement and sent letters stating their common position to the EU, US, UK, and OSCE. The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, CC, and NAM urged them to abstain from recognizing the so-called “referendum”, support the demands of Belarusians to release political prisoners, and hold a new election, and also to increase pressure on the regime in the event of the continued crackdown.
Belarusians are urged to come to the polling stations, cross out both proposed options, and record their actions using the Voice platform. Diaspora activists are called to organize exit polls and solidarity rallies. The democratic forces launched a website explaining the common strategy: https://xx2022.org.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Belarusian Medical Solidarity Foundation shared their vision of the relevant problems in the Belarusian healthcare system and the future reform (read more).
– ICAO has released its report on the event involving Ryanair flight in Belarus airspace. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented: “The ICAO debate, set to take place on January 31, must be just the beginning of a process that will lead to a real investigation. It is the only way to reflect the position of Belarusians. Now, ICAO and the international community can either turn a blind eye to the lawlessness in aviation – or stop it. I am convinced that our partners will choose a constructive path that will ensure safety for the entire region”.
– In partnership with the representatives of the Solidarity Platform and residents of the Solidarity Hub, a creative discussion on the “referendum” was held. During the event, the action plan for the “referendum” and the time following, as well as for the event of its cancellation, were developed.
– Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Alexander Dabravolski, her Representative on Education and Science Tatiana Shchyttsova, and other OST representatives met with the members of Belarusian National Youth Council “RADA”. They agreed to cooperate in youth policy and discussed how to defend Belarusians’ rights at the international level. Also, representatives of the Office and “RADA” agreed to increase common efforts on the elaboration of educational reform and work more actively with the youth.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and representatives of the Office held the first wide-ranging call with the Belarusian diaspora in Ukraine. They discussed how to facilitate the legalization of Belarusians' stay, raised the issue of the “referendum” and the diaspora's participation in it, discussed how to keep Belarus on the agenda amidst other regional issues. The diaspora and the Office agreed that contacts and cooperation should be regular.
– At the initiative of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, Tatiana Shchyttsova started developing an educational project for Belarusian children abroad. The project is aimed at creating and supporting various educational projects designed for Belarusian children who had to flee Belarus with their parents.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Representative for the Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation Anatoli Liabedzka made a statement regarding the military exercises in the territory of Belarus: “The international attention is focused on the possible outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine. But the possibility of occupation of Belarus by the Russian troops under the guise of joint exercises is being neglected”.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave an extensive interview to Belarusian blogger and journalist Mikita Melkaziorau's YouTube channel. The Belarusian leader told about Siarhei Tsikhanouski, her childhood in Belarusian town Mikashevichy, the desire to return home to Minsk, and described the “meeting” with high-ranking security service figures at the Central Election Commission on August 10, 2020, when she was forced to flee the country.
