Vaccines and common ground before the referendum: coordination of the democratic forces
– To forge a common position of the democratic forces on the upcoming referendum and develop an action plan, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held working calls with the local community activists, representatives of the Coordination Council, National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), Peramoga Plan initiative, the Workers’ Movement mobilization campaigns, and the Honest People initiative.
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also discussed the strategy of the strike movement and the mobilization plan with Pavel Latushka, ByPol, NAM, and representatives of Telegram channels.
– Following the working meetings with Belarusian political leaders, doctors, teachers, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya shared the latest news from the initiatives.
– The democratic forces’ campaign for the free delivery of internationally approved vaccines to Belarus continues. Franak Viacorka, Senior Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, shared details: “We have consulted with the Polish side and COVAX representatives. Also, we are waiting for an update from WHO. Next week we will meet with the German Health Minister to discuss this very issue”.
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya outlined the position of the democratic forces on the integration agreements signed by the regime. They will be revised: “All agreements and documents signed by the regime after the elections are illegitimate and must be revised by the new government”.
Raising awareness and education
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, joined by her Representative on Economic Reforms Ales Aliakhnovich and analyst Siarhei Chaly, held a live stream on how the economic crisis impacts people’s financial well-being. They also answered questions from Belarusians regarding salaries, pensions, and taxes. You can read the key points.
– The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will hold “Khvalya” (eng. Wave) – a series of masterclasses that will cover how to start blogs and media from scratch and counteract propaganda. Belarusians can join “Khvalya” anonymously and securely. It is to start on November 15 at 19:00.
– The Volnija Pashtouki (Freedom Postcards) initiative released a guide on how to support political prisoners: send telegrams or money transfers, order books from the library of the detention center, and more. There is a guide in English from Viasna Human Rights Center.
– Volunteers of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office joined the initiative from the White Coats Telegram channel and spread leaflets on the importance of vaccination and wearing masks.
– Spotlight of the Regions released two new articles, one covering corruption and workers’ rights violations at a construction enterprise in the Belarusian town Lida, and the second covering a severe shortage of bus routes due to mass redundancies in Pinsk. Belarusians share information with Spotlight via the secure chatbot.
International work
– On November 9-12, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will visit Berlin with a package of proposals to the new government on policy towards Belarus. She will meet with the German President, ministers, leaders of political groups in the Bundestag, as well as Chancellor and Foreign Minister candidates.
– Head of the Cabinet and Ms. Tsikhanosukaya’s Representative on Foreign Affairs Valery Kavaleuski gave an update on the preparation process for the International high-level conference on the Belarus issue in Vienna. The conference is set to take place on November 21-23. Mr. Kavaleuski also explained who will be invited to the conference.
– On November 11, the OST Research Center will hold a webinar on the following topic: “Belarusian lawyers and human rights defenders at risks: what can be done?”. Register here.
– Ms. Tsikhanouskaya had a meeting with the President of the Czech Senate Miloš Vystrčil. He pledged that all political forces in the Czech Republic support Belarus.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Representative for the Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, held meetings with the head of the Lithuanian Committee on Foreign Affairs Žygimantas Pavilionis and the Swedish Riksdag members. The focus of the meetings was the support for Belarusian political prisoners, as well as the formation of a group in the Swedish parliament that would promote the Belarusian issue.
– The Office held negotiations on assistance in overcoming the crisis in Belarus with Helmut Brandstetter, head of the Group for relations with Belarus in the Austrian Parliament, and representatives of the British Foreign Ministry. The Office also held consultations in the UN and OSCE regarding the support of Belarus.
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews on the situation in Belarus to Belsat, POLITICO (one, two), ABC News (the US), DW (International).
The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urges Belarusians to wear masks, take any vaccines available, keep social distance, and, if possible, work from home. Stay safe and take care of the people who surround you!
