Common strategy and mutual support
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office held a meeting of the democratic forces’ initiatives and organizations. They worked out the new direction for the joint efforts and discussed the action plan for 2022. New initiatives joined the Solidarity platform.
- At belarusplatform.org, Belarusians can join initiatives as volunteers or find expert assistance in implementing their ideas.
- The Platform’s Telegram channel shares new vacancies from civil society initiatives.
– Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Alexander Dabravolski, legal advisor at the National Anti-Crisis Management Artsiom Praskalovich, and the OST Strategic Communications Officer Anastasiya Kostyugova explained the democratic forces’ joint strategy for the announced “referendum” – participate and invalidate ballots. They also told Belarusians why ballot strike is counterproductive and how to demonstrate their position effectively.
– At an interview with Zerkalo.io, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya answered questions on Belarus sovereignty and the upcoming “referendum”: “The announced “referendum” cannot solve a single problem in Belarus. It does not give people a choice and will not help the country solve the crisis. We insist that violence must be stopped, political prisoners released, and a new presidential election held. Without these conditions, no early elections will be legal. Both those who suffered from the regime and those who relied on its protection in exchange for staying silent and executing its orders need dialogue concerning new elections. Dialogue is what the whole country needs”.
– The Volnyja Pashtouki (Freedom Postcards) initiative made a 24-day Christmas Advent calendar. It suggests doing simple tasks to express solidarity with Belarus political prisoners: writing a letter, sending a DIY postcard, cooking by a recipe from Ksenia Syramolat, the student imprisoned on political grounds, and demonstrating your solidarity in other ways. Follow the link to download the calendar in 4 languages.
International work
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made an visit to Sweden. She met the OSCE PA President and Secretary-General, as well as more than 10 ministers from different countries. She greeted the Friends of Belarus group in the Swedish parliament. The two key outcomes of Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s meetings are the following:
1. The Leader of democratic Belarus introduced partners to the joint position of the democratic forces on the “referendum” and urged them not to recognize its conduct and results.
2. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was assured, despite all the attempts of the regime to make international contacts, the European policy towards Belarus remains consistent: no dialogue is possible until political prisoners are released.
– On December 7, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has a working visit to Munich. She will also visit Warsaw on December 9-10.
Education
– On December 9, at 17:00 GMT+3, the OST Research Center will hold a weekly panel discussion on the topic: “Education in Belarus and Educational Projects for Belarusians in EU: prospects for nearest future”. Register here. You can read сonclusions of the expert discussions “Liberalizing import of services from Belarus to the EU: a revolutionary win-win step” (here) or “Belarusian lawyers and human rights defenders at risk: what can be done?” (here).
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