REACTION TO WAGNER PMC PLACEMENT IN BELARUS. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya responded to Putin's statement regarding the Wagner PMC deployment in Belarus: “We, Belarusians, do not need Prigozhin's thugs, or Russian nuclear missiles, or a strongman rule. Putin and Lukashenka are turning our country into a pariah state, a firing range. Despite this disheartening situation, this is not a reason to give up. Neither for me nor for you”.
VISIT TO BRUSSELS: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and a delegation of the United Transitional Cabinet were on a working visit to Brussels on June 27-29. Meetings were held with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, the EU High Representative Josep Borrell, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, as well as the Belarusian diaspora. The first meeting of the Belarus-EU Consultative Group was held involving members of the Coordination Council and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, representatives of the Belarusian civil society, independent media, human rights organizations, and business associations. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the meeting: “The European perspective for Belarus is a distinct strategic priority that can be pursued jointly with the Group in a comprehensive and systematic manner”. Read more about the results of the visit at the link.
BELARUS-IRELAND. On June 27, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received in her Office the Speaker of the Irish Parliament, Seán Ó Fearghaíl. The cooperation between the democratic forces and Ireland has already resulted in several initiatives: 1) a group of Friends of Democratic Belarus has been established; 2) Irish MPs will keep taking patronage over Belarusian political prisoners; 3) the Irish Parliament may hold hearings and adopt a resolution on Belarus.
CABINET-COORDINATION COUNCIL RELATIONS. On June 29, the Coordination Council and United Transitional Cabinet adopted a protocol on their cooperation, establishing procedures for approval of Cabinet representatives by the Council, interaction concerning the elaboration of common strategic objectives of the democratic forces, joint efforts in foreign policy, and cooperation in other fields. Read the protocol here (in Belarusian).
CONVERSATIONS WITH BELARUSIANS. On Monday, July 3, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will hold her weekly personal conversations with Belarusians. She and her team will discuss issues faced by people in different towns and cities in Belarus and abroad.
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS. On June 30, volunteers of the Office held an online meeting with women’s rights activist Marina Mentusova. They talked about feminism, gender equality, and women in politics. A recording of the meeting and an interview will be released soon.
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was interviewed by CNN JIM Sciutto show (US, international), BBC Radio (UK), Bloomberg (International), CBC (Canada), RAI (Italy), DW (Germany, international), ABC RN Breakfast (Australia), SVT (Sweden), MRS (Netherlands), Sky News (1, 2, 3, 4) (UK).
