SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL. On October 7, Israel was attacked by the terrorist organization Hamas. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed her support for the people of Israel, while also appealing to the Belarusians living in the country: “We are confident that the criminals who have unleashed war and encroached on key human values will be held to account. We express our condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and mourn the numerous victims among the civilian population. Belarusians living in Israel, please listen carefully to the messages of the Home Front Command and follow its instructions. Take care of yourself and your loved ones”.
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COMMUNITY SUMMIT. On October 5-6, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the Summit of the European Political Community, which was held this year in Granada (Spain). 47 heads of state and government gathered to discuss issues of security, economic growth, and social stability in Europe. The Belarusian leader arrived at the Summit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. During the Summit, she held a number of meetings, including with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Siliņa, Prime Minister of Czechia Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Nikolay Denkov, as well as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Ararat Mirzoyan.
WARSAW FORUM. On October 3-4, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the Warsaw Security Forum, where she addressed the international community: “The world should stop thinking of Belarus as some part of Russia. We were part of Europe many centuries before Russia came to Belarus. Respecting and protecting our Belarusian European choice: this must be an integral part of Western policy towards Russia. I sometimes hear that Belarus is “a lost case”. But Ukraine – and actually – whole Europe – will never be safe, if Belarus remains in Russian claws. Belarusians want to hear from you that Europe's door is open to Belarus, and that it will not be given as a consolation prize to Putin”.
For the first time, a discussion on the situation in Belarus took place during the Warsaw Forum. It gathered more than 120 participants, including representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered her remarks: “Now, we are fighting for our independence, and for the very survival of Belarus as a nation. And it can be possible only if Belarus becomes part of the European Union. Belarus, same as Ukraine, can not have any future with Russia”.
The Belarusian leader also held meetings with the President of the OSCE PA, foreign ministers, ambassadors, and members of national parliaments. Read more about the meetings at the link.
SPEECH BEFORE COORDINATION COUNCIL. On October 2, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made a big speech before the Coordination Council, where she outlined 7 main priorities for the work of democratic forces in the near future: 1) visualizing the new Belarus; 2) supporting the repressed; 3) bringing the perpetrators to justice; 4) helping Belarusians in exile; 5) strengthening the national identity of Belarusians; 6) conducting informational and educational work; 7) protecting the independence of Belarus. Watch the recording of the address at the link.
During her address, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the Coordination Council elections: “Elections in the Coordination Council could become an alternative to the regime’s elections in the fake parliament. We must not participate in Lukashenka's elections as they are illegal, but we must use them as an opportunity to talk about our alternative”.
In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also addressed Belarusians inside the country: “I can only imagine how difficult it must be to continue your activities against the backdrop of terror. How difficult it is to wake up every morning expecting a visit from the security forces. But I ask you not to give up. Use this time for self-development and keep up the fighting spirit”.
BELARUS-OSCE. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, together with representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet and Advisor on Legal Affairs Kristina Rikhter, took part in the OSCE side event on Belarus, which took place in Warsaw. At the event, the OSCE announced its group of Friends of Democratic Belarus. The Belarusian leader expressed her expectations from the group's activities: “We urge ODIHR and the Secretariat to request visits to political prisoners and access to the continuing trials in Belarus. The OSCE group of Friends of Belarus can help bring the Lukashenka regime and its accomplices to justice for crimes against Ukrainian children. ODIHR also should not waste its resources on observing the regime's elections in 2024”.
RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS OF REPRESSION. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, in cooperation with Belarusian human rights organizations, NGOs, attorneys, and former lawyers, developed a draft Concept of restitution for the victims of the regime. Additional materials were released this week explaining the eligibility criteria and forms of compensation, as well as the mechanism for the release from prisons. Read them at the links.
The draft Concept is available in Russian and Belarusian. Belarusians can share their feedback and proposals through the Telegram bot @AskOffice_Bot, email [email protected], and the Google form.
RALLIES IN BELARUS. October 5 marked 3 years since Belarusian seniors held their first rally, the March of Wisdom. On that occasion, seniors in Belarus organized a new rally and shared a video of it with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office and the media. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented: “My dear ones, it truly impresses and inspires us all that even in today's situation, you show your disagreement with the regime and stand up against
violence and absurdity. With your actions, you show the whole world that Belarusians are still who they are and do not give up”.
LUBLIN FOUR FORUM. On October 6, the Lublin Triangle held its forum involving Belarus, transforming the format into Lublin Four. Since 2021, politicians, public figures, and journalists from Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania have been holding a large-scale forum every year. This year's forum was the first to feature a Belarusian voice. The Belarusian leader emphasized that all participants of the Lublin Four countries share a common heritage and the same values. “When Belarus and Ukraine become EU members, Russian attempts to restore the empire will be doomed to fail. This is why Putin supported Lukashenka’s terror against Belarusians. This is why Putin unleashed the war in Ukraine. And this is why supporting both democratic Belarus and Ukraine is crucial”, said Ms. Tsikhanouskaya.
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE REGIME. The Belarusian leader took part in the ISANS side event on bringing to justice the perpetrators of crimes against Belarusians and Ukrainians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Legal Affairs Kristina Rikhter, Belarusian lawyers, and a number of foreign experts also took part in the event. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya noted: “Gathering data about human rights violations will stimulate our international partners to exercise their mandate. All collected information will inform eventual trials in the International Criminal Court or the special tribunals. We should make sure that the regime is accountable not only internationally but also to the people of Belarus”.
MEETING WITH THE CABINET. On October 2, a meeting of the extended United Transitional Cabinet was held in Warsaw involving Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. During the meeting, the Cabinet approved the 7 priorities for the work of the democratic forces for the near future.
BELARUS-LITHUANIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, met with the Chairman of the Lithuanian Seimas delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Emanuelis Zingeris. They discussed the current PACE session, which will also feature a delegation from the Belarusian parties liquidated by the regime. Mr. Zingeris and Mr. Liabedzka also discussed the possibility of extending the validity period of Lithuanian residence permits for Belarusians from one year to three years.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the Lithuanian Seimas Conference on Belarusian-Lithuanian relations, which took place on October 2. In her speech, she addressed the provocative statements in the media and online talking about Belarusians' territorial claims to Lithuania: “The claims of such provocateurs are outrageous and absurd. They contradict the basic principles of democracy and Belarusian national interests”. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the importance of distinguishing between Belarusians and the regime, as well Belarusians and Russians, and noted the need to maintain a humanitarian corridor on the border of Belarus and Lithuania: “They have no other choice, if they want to save their life and freedom”.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BELARUSIANS. The Office's team on education released a new issue of the Asveta digest covering various educational opportunities, scholarships and internships. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Economic Reforms Aleś Alaсhnovič will also instruct the Free Belarusian University course on Economic Transformation in Central and Eastern Europe.
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS. Volunteers of the Office released a video interview with the United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Foreign Affairs, Valery Kavaleuski. Mr. Kavaleuski spoke about the new Belarusian passport, relations with Ukraine, the European Union and other partners, as well as about the possible closure of the borders. The video is available on YouTube in Belarusian.
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to Politiken (Denmark), AFP (International), American Purpose (USA), Voice of America (1, 2) (International).
