On May 12, an Information Point for the Belarusian People — a joint initiative of Lithuania and the Council of Europe — opened in Vilnius. It is the first permanent Council of Europe platform for Belarusians in exile and is expected to operate for at least five years.
The Information Point will serve as a space where Belarusians can access information on human rights, support programs, educational and cultural opportunities, and build cooperation with European institutions. Its opening is also an important political signal: Belarus is regarded as part of the European democratic space, despite not being a member of the Council of Europe.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the opening ceremony and highlighted the importance of this step for the future of Belarus:
“I hope this place will become another hub for Belarusian initiatives, a platform for learning, and a source of knowledge. It should be open to every Belarusian and every organization seeking partnerships, expertise, and opportunities that only the Council of Europe can provide.
I want this place to become a platform for cooperation, dialogue, education, and solidarity. I hope it will help draw greater attention to Belarus, mobilize new resources, and create opportunities for our talented journalists, activists, lawyers, human rights defenders, young people, and women’s initiatives”.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the Belarusian community.
The Information Point is located at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania — one of the country’s key public and intellectual spaces.
