MUNICH CONFERENCE. On February 15-18, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was on a working visit to Germany, where she took part in the Munich Security Conference. During the forum, the Belarusian leader joined four panel discussions focusing on cyber security, ways to defend democracy and counter information manipulation, civil resistance, and the role of women in the struggle for democracy.
In addition, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya held several high-level meetings, including with the US Secretary of State, Defense Ministers of Latvia and Estonia, Presidents of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, the President of NATO PA, US Congress and Senate members, leadership of Signal and OpenAI, and others. During the meetings, the leader raised the issues of releasing political prisoners, supporting the Belarusian media and civil society, bringing the regime and its aides to justice, facilitating the legalization of stay for Belarusians abroad, and recognizing the new Belarusian passport.
NAVALNY’S DEATH. Alexei Navalny was reported to have died in Russian prison on February 16. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on his death: “This death is further evidence that human life means nothing to dictators. The Putin regime, like the Lukashenka regime, seeks to maintain power by getting rid of opponents by any means necessary. That is why I have no doubt that Navalny was deliberately killed by the Putin regime.”.
On the same day, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Navalny’s wife Yulia, and expressed her sincere condolences.
SHAM ELECTION. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, recorded an address where he explained why the regime’s “single voting day” is a sham election. “What the regime calls an election is a sideshow and manipulation. In most districts, pro-regime parties compete with pro-regime parties. The names of members of election commissions have not been disclosed. International observers have not been invited. The regime does not even have enough candidates to fill the ballots and create an illusion of competition. All this shows that things are bad for the regime”, commented Mr. Viacorka.
BELARUS-USA. On February 14, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the new US Ambassador to Lithuania, Kara McDonald, in her Office in Vilnius. During the conversation, the Belarusian leader emphasized the critical situation with political prisoners and the possible steps to achieve their release. The parties also discussed steps to advance the Belarus–US Strategic Dialogue and possible cooperation within the UN and humanitarian organizations.
SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS. Many political prisoners in Belarus are kept incommunicado by the regime. The democratic leader urged Belarusians to continue supporting political prisoners: “It’s been 363 days since our letters last reached Maryia Kalesnikava. It’s been 369 for Maksim Znak. 292 for Viktar Babaryka. 358 for Ihar Losik. I haven’t heard from my husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, for 341 days. It’s been a very long time since the last reports about their whereabouts or their health. Many more people may be in the same situation – we may simply have never heard of them”.
SUPPORT FOR BELARUSIANS. According to various estimates, more than half a million people have left Belarus after 2020. Many who remain in the country face the daily risk of being detained and persecuted for a like or repost on social media. For Belarusians who have faced repression and feel the need to leave the country, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office compiled a list of its partner initiatives that can be contacted for help.
NEW BELARUSIAN PASSPORT. Images of a draft design for the new Belarusian passport, which incorrectly depicts the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, appeared on the Internet. The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the United Transitional Cabinet acknowledged the issue as a technical error and committed to its correction. Valery Kavaleuski, the representative of the United Transitional Cabinet who is coordinating the passport project, stated: “Thank you for highlighting this error – it will be corrected. The design has not yet been officially approved. We are committed to respecting the sovereignty, independence, and inviolable territorial integrity of Lithuania”.
BELARUS’ ECONOMY. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms, Aleś Alachnovič, talked about Lukashenka’s debt and lenders as well as why Belarusians won’t need to fully repay the debt: “We owe Russia 2/3 of the total external state debt – that’s over $10 billion. However, likely, Belarus won’t have to repay all the loans. We can initiate an international legal process to declare the loans Russia provided to Lukashenka, at least after 2020, as illegitimate. Because Lukashenka was not a legitimately elected leader of Belarus”.
YOUTH POLICY. On February 13, Lukashenka committed to prevent reforms and stick to the Soviet legacy in education. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, commented on Lukashenka’s outdated approach towards young Belarusians: “We are blamed for aspiring to receive education abroad. But Belarusian education has long been outdated. It prepares servants for the regime, not professionals. Belarusian universities do not prioritize knowledge – they prioritize conformity”.
EDUCATION. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, commented on the regime’s new “initiatives” in higher education, which show its preference for Soviet legacy instead of genuine reforms and their intent to prevent young people from studying abroad: “Let us summarize taking into account the nature of Lukashenka’s rule. He was reserved talking about his contribution to the current higher education crisis in Belarus. But since he is obviously not going to change his behavior, he came up with a creative political decision. To keep young people from studying abroad, he ordered the rectors to make sure by September 1… That no one leaves!”
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to AP News (International), Niezalezna.pl (Poland), The Record media, Kyiv Independent (Ukraine),Deutschlandfunkkultur (Germany), LRT (Lithuania). She published an op-ed together with Foreign Minister of Germany, Annalena Baerbock, in Die Welt (Germany).
