COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND DEMOCRATIC FORCES
This week, during her working visit to Malta, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. They signed the Letter of Intent on Cooperation between the European Parliament and the Belarusian Democratic Forces. This is the first time the European Parliament has signed such a document with a body other than an official government.
SUPPORT FUND FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS
At Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s initiative, an international humanitarian fund was established in Norway to support political prisoners and their families in Belarus. Support will include medical, material, and psychological assistance, as well as rehabilitation for individuals who have suffered political repression from the regime.
The Belarusian leader also commented on the situation with political prisoners kept incommunicado: “We do not need special occasions to remember how important it is to support our political prisoners. It’s been 443 days since we’ve heard from Maryia Kalesnikava. It’s been 449 days for Maksim Znak. 448 days for Mikalai Statkevich. 452 days for Viktar Babaryka. 438 days for Ihar Losik. For 421 days, I’ve had no information about the fate of my husband, Siarhei. In a situation where they are being tortured and denied any assistance, this is rather a humanitarian than a political issue”.
VISIT TO NORWAY
During her working visit to Norway, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Speaker of the Parliament, Masud Gharahkhani. She also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, the Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindby, and the Minister of Culture, Lubna Jaffery.
In addition, the Belarusian leader addressed the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of Norway, held a briefing for the expert community at the Norwegian Institute for Foreign Affairs, and spoke at the Words Matter Conference. She also was interviewed by several Norwegian and international media, including the BBC.
VISIT TO MALTA
In addition to signing the cooperation agreement with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also met with several key state politicians of Malta during her visit: the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Speaker of the Parliament. Malta became the 26th EU country visited by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Hungary now remains the last European Union country that has not yet received the Belarusian leader.
PRESS FREEDOM DAY
On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a statement: “The regime is trying so hard to destroy the ‘fourth power’ – because it has already subjugated the first three. In the struggle for freedom of speech and democratic values, journalism is one of the most important institutions. And we must preserve it”.
LABOR DAY
As Labor Day was celebrated on May 1, celebrating workers’ rights and social justice, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stated: “In Belarus, we are faced with a tragic irony. While proclaiming May 1 a holiday, the government militantly suppresses independent trade unions and limits workers’ rights. Two years ago, the authorities liquidated the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) and its affiliated organizations. The best way to celebrate May 1 today is to continue their tradition of fighting for workers’ rights. Never allow even minor violations of your rights”.
FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF IN BELARUS
On April 29, when Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the Norwegian Helsinki Committee in Oslo, the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief, operating under the auspices of the committee, initiated a letter to be signed by parliamentarians from different countries. It responds to the new repressive law on religious organizations adopted in Belarus and calls for “concrete action to provide freedom of religion or belief to all in Belarus”.
DIGITAL SECURITY TIPS
Recently, there has been an increase in the activity of phishing fraudsters who send letters from fake addresses similar to the contacts of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office. The Office team prepared a guide for Belarusians to explain what phishing is and how to recognize it to avoid becoming a victim.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to the BBC (International), NRK (Norway), Global News (Canada), and Kathimerini Newspaper (Greece).
