MEETING WITH BELARUSIAN NGOs IN LITHUANIA. On February 8, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with representatives of 12 Belarusian organizations and initiatives in Lithuania. The meeting focused on ways to improve Lithuanian-Belarusian relations, organize joint events and campaigns, collaborate with Lithuanian media, and address migration problems and safety issues faced by Belarusians abroad.
SUPPORT FOR BELARUSIAN BLOGGERS. On February 6, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with independent Belarusian bloggers and media. They discussed cooperation with tech companies and agreed on training for bloggers by Google and other companies. Bloggers stressed issues with promoting Belarusian-language content on YouTube and the critical situation with funding.
COOPERATION WITH TRADE UNIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS. Throughout the week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office consulted with representatives of independent Belarusian trade unions and human rights defenders. With trade unions, they discussed joint campaigns to implement the ILO resolution and advocate for the interests of repressed workers on the international stage ahead of the ILO Conference. With human rights defenders, the discussions focused on steps to promote the resolution in the UN Human Rights Council, which begins its work at the end of February 2024. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s team also met with the leadership of the International Accountability Platform for Belarus to discuss progress with criminal cases against the regime under universal jurisdiction.
EDUCATION. At the initiative of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and with the participation of the United Transitional Cabinet, some of the best Belarusian experts in secondary education have developed a roadmap project to prepare reforms in the school education system in Belarus. It aims to ensure stable operation and effective transformation of the school education system after the democratic transition in the country.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, addressed Belarusians regarding the introduction of a new patriotic course for students in grades 5-7: “This initiative poses a threat to the intellectual freedom of our youth. The Lukashenka regime seeks to use this course as a means of ideological indoctrination, portraying it as an initiative for promoting civic and patriotic values”.
LEGALIZATION OF STAY ABROAD AND LEGAL ISSUES. Numerous cases have been reported in the media about Belarusians being recognized as threats to national security in different European countries. This causes concern among people and raises a series of questions. The Legal Team of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office released a guide on what to do in such situations.
Consultations were also held with the Polish Ministry of the Interior to simplify the legalization of stay for Belarusians in Poland. Over two years of cooperation with the Polish side, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and Belarusian NGOs have achieved changes in several migration procedures for Belarusians.
SHAM ELECTION. The democratic forces continued their awareness campaign against the so-called “single voting day” on February 25. The common campaign aims to achieve international non-recognition of the regime’s election and reduce voter turnout. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya explained why the “single voting day” is just a simulation of elections: “The political framework in Belarus has been cleared. Leaders of political parties are in prisons, no free media can operate in the country, and all NGOs have been liquidated. The so-called “election” is needed only for Lukashenka himself – to legitimize himself in the eyes of his closest circle. This is not something people should sacrifice their lives or freedom for”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, called on Belarusians not to participate in the farce: “In countries that have real elections, electoral commissions are formed with both supporters and opponents of the authorities. Mutual control helps avoid falsifications. But who will count the votes in February? Among the 57,233 members of the electoral commissions, there is not a single representative of the opposition. What should Belarusians do? Do not participate and do not vote so that you don’t legitimize it”.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION ON BELARUS. On February 8, the European Parliament adopted an urgent resolution on Belarus against the backdrop of mass repression against former political prisoners and their relatives, as well as the announced trial in absentia against independent experts and analysts. The resolution demands that the regime stop repression and torture against people, and calls on the international community to impose sanctions against the dictatorship’s accomplices.
SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS. February 9 marked exactly one year since Mikalai Statkevich’s relatives and loved ones received the last message from him. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the international support campaign “Show Statkevich!” demanding to end his incommunicado detention: “I call on all our international partners: media, politicians, and activists – to demand that the regime show Mikalai Statkevich. Exert as much pressure on the regime as possible. It must understand that no crime will go unpunished – and every perpetrator will be held accountable”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s team also released a guide on the international Libereco and Viasna campaign WeStandBYou to support political prisoners in Belarus. Follow the link to find out about how symbolic godparents help political prisoners.
RESPONSE TO BORDER CLOSURE PLANS. The Belarusian leader commented on Lithuania’s State Security Department’s intention to close two more crossings at its border with Belarus: “We understand the concerns of Lithuania’s security services. However, closing border crossings for passengers is treating the symptoms, not the root of the problem. Of course, regime collaborators may be among those arriving. We should identify them. The verification system can be reviewed, and we can offer assistance with this. The ones who must be isolated are Lukashenka and his regime, not Belarusians. What must be restricted is cargo transportation, and primarily flows of trade in sanctioned goods. Passenger travel must be preserved”.
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to Le Monde (France), La Stampa (Italy), H-und-G.info (Germany), Delfi (Lithuania), LRT (Lithuania), Pozirk (Belarus), Radio Racyja (1, 2) (Belarus), Belsat (1, 2) (Belarus), Iran TV Independent (Iran, International).
