VISIT TO GERMANY. On April 24-25, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was on a working visit to Berlin. She met with the Minister of Finance, the Foreign and Security Advisor to the Chancellor of Germany, the US Ambassador, and members of the Bundestag. She also gave a speech at the 17th Berlin Speech on Freedom. In addition, in Berlin, Tsikhanouskaya commenced the work of the Democratic Belarus parliamentary group in the Bundestag and spoke before committees on foreign policy and European affairs. Read more about the visit at the link.
VIKTAR BABARYKA. On April 26, it was reported that Viktar Babaryka had been hospitalized with signs of beating. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the situation and demanded that his condition be publicly demonstrated: “We demand access for his lawyers and relatives.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's advisor Franak Viacorka spoke on the Office’s contacts with international organizations and explained what the Office and the United Transitional Cabinet are doing to address the situation.
Following the comments, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Lukashenka's accomplices: “Only you can save yourselves. Do it now. Get in touch with us. Share information. Do it not only for your own future but also to remain human.”
CHORNOBYL WAY. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster: “Belarusians learned the lesson, but not the dictators.” She called on the Belarusian diaspora to join the Chornobyl Way rallies in their cities. In Vilnius, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya laid flowers at the Chornobyl Mother Memorial, gave a speech, and joined the Chornobyl Way in Vilnius.
TRANSITION PERIOD STRATEGY. Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Alexander Dabravolski, presented the Transitional Period Strategy project to Coordination Council members. The strategy project considers several scenarios for developments in Belarus and the possible involvement of the democratic forces.
CONFERENCE OF THE BELARUSIAN DIASPORA BELARUSIANS OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE. On April 22-23, more than 120 representatives of initiatives and communities of Belarusians from different continents gathered at the Conference in Vilnius. Franak Viacorka, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, discussed the conference's outcomes.
BUSINESS FORUM. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a speech at the second Belarusian Business Forum in Vilnius, the fourth event held by the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad (ABBA) in Vilnius and Warsaw.
BELARUS-CHINA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the statement of the Chinese ambassador to France, who questioned the sovereignty of post-Soviet countries: “PRC was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus' independence in 1991. The statements made by the ambassador are unacceptable.”
SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS. On April 26, the day the Viasna Human Rights Center was founded, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and Advisor on Legal Issues Kristina Rikhter congratulated human rights defenders: “For 27 years, human rights defenders in Belarus have been embodying the spirit of justice and freedom. They often risk their own freedom to ensure that fundamental human rights are observed and protected.”
CONVERSATIONS WITH BELARUSIANS. On Friday, April 28, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held weekly personal conversations with Belarusians. Among the callers was Yauhen Hatsak, one of the leaders of the Belarusian diaspora, who was denied entry to Georgia. The Office’s legal department took up his case.
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was interviewed by Delfi (Lithuania), Die Welt (Germany), Tagesspiegel (Germany), Spiegel (Germany), T-Online (Germany), Le Monde, Belsat (Belarus), Mikalai Maslouski's blog (Belarus), Zerkalo.io (Belarus), Nasha Niva (Belarus).