August 04, 2025
Monthly recap: July 2025. Key events, new research, and notable achievements of Belarusian activists and NGOs
The Volunteer Service of the Viasna Human Rights Center presented a guide on peaceful assemblies for Belarusians living abroad. The Free Belarus Center updated and relaunched its support services: Belarusians can request legal, psychological, and accounting assistance. Dissidentby launched a dedicated section on their website with information on individuals involved in the repression of political […]
August 04, 2025
“Overcoming the consequences of Lukashenka’s repressive policies is a reality we will all have to face in the near future”
At times, it might seem that repression in Belarus is easing. Political prisoners are being released, and their number appears to be decreasing. But that’s not the case – a closer look at the context tells a different story. BelPol has analyzed the true scale of repression: Since 2020, repression has affected at least 500,000 […]
August 04, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to discuss political prisoners in Belarus
On the sidelines of the OSCE conference in Helsinki, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. They discussed communication with the authorities in Minsk regarding the release of political prisoners, a possible visit by the Commissioner to the region, and United States’ efforts toward humanitarian releases, including that of […]
August 04, 2025
Belarusian issue at the UN Security Council: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon
During her visit to Helsinki, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon. The meeting took place as the country prepares to chair the UN Security Council in December. Slovenia took Belarus’ place on the Council after receiving 153 votes in the General Assembly, while Belarus received only 38. Ms. […]
August 04, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Pekka Haavisto
Tsikhanouskaya met with Pekka Haavistom – former Finnish Foreign Minister and presidential candidate who narrowly lost to Alexander Stubb with 49% of the vote. They discussed regional politics, potential scenarios for Belarus and the region, and coordination with the United States administration. Mr. Haavisto shared insights from his 2020 talks with Uladzimir Makei and negotiations […]
August 04, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with new President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pere Joan Pons Sampietro
In Helsinki, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the new President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, and the former President, Pia Kauma. President Pons Sampietro invited Ms. Tsikhanouskaya to participate in an OSCE PA session and emphasized that keeping Belarus on the international agenda is a top priority for the Assembly. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya […]
August 04, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-aho
During her visit to Finland, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Speaker of the country’s Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho. Mr. Halla-aho opened the meeting in Belarusian, and the conversation partly continued in the Belarusian language. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Mr. Halla-aho for organizing the Helsinki Dialogue Conference, which led to the formalization of the democratic forces’ relations with […]
August 01, 2025
Finland to join the International Humanitarian Fund to support repressed Belarusians
In Helsinki, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Foreign Minister of Finland, Elina Valtonen, who currently chairs the OSCE. The minister agreed to join the International Humanitarian Fund and allocate €50,000 in aid to victims of repression. In addition to Finland, the fund has already been joined by Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, and […]
July 31, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with President of Finland Alexander Stubb
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues her working visit to Helsinki. After her speech at the Helsinki+50 Conference, she met with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb. Mr. Stubb repeatedly expressed solidarity with Belarus following the events of 2020, and Finland remains an important ally of the democratic forces in their fight for freedom and change. The parties […]
July 31, 2025
“We keep fighting until all families are reunited. Until everyone can return home”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her working visit to Finland by joining the Helsinki+50 Conference. The event, marking the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Accords, brought together international leaders and politicians, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb, OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Before her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed condolences […]
July 29, 2025
“The regime sees nothing wrong in keeping people in the dark”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s comment on the drone crash in Minsk
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Last night, another Russian drone was shot down in Minsk. It crashed near a kindergarten and lay there for half an hour before the police arrived. Fortunately, there were no casualties this time. But just this past week, 59 drones entered Belarusian airspace, and the fact that no one was hurt is nothing […]
July 29, 2025
“The war unleashed by imperialist Russia must be stopped”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended a solidarity rally for Ukraine in Vilnius
Today, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the 148th weekly rally in support of Ukraine. She addressed the participants, expressing unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and calling for unity and joint resistance against the aggressor. On resistance and the horrors of war “Every day and every night brings a new barbaric attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure. More victims. […]
July 28, 2025
Appeal to President Zelenskyy, solidarity with Ukraine. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: July 21–27
NEW BELARUS CONFERENCE The New Belarus Conference 2025 will take place in Warsaw on August 9–10, marking the anniversary of the mass protests of 2020. The event will feature a review of five years of the democratic forces’ efforts, joint resolutions, new campaigns, and United Transitional Cabinet appointments. See the conference program at the link. […]
July 27, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address on the anniversary of the Declaration of Sovereignty of Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “July 27, 1990, was the day Belarusians declared: We have the right to our own state. Thirty-five years have passed since the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty, which reflected our people’s intention and their will to live by their own rules. Today, when the country is ruled by a pro-Russian regime and […]
July 25, 2025
Exhibition on political prisoners in Belarus opened in Prague
On July 24, an exhibition dedicated to political prisoners from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine opened in Prague. It was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the Czech NGOs People In Need, Prague Civil Society Centre, and Gulag.cz. The exhibition tells the stories of real people – Nariman, […]
July 24, 2025
“We must not allow one person’s unacceptable actions to destroy BYSOL’s years of work”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The recent news has caused outrage and disappointment, and I want to express my support for all women affected by harassment. Thank you for finding the strength to speak openly about such important and painful issues. Inappropriate and shameful behavior cannot be justified or silenced. This is a broader societal problem that affects […]
July 24, 2025
Join the solidarity rally with Ukraine in Vilnius on July 28!
Next Monday, the weekly rally in support of Ukraine will take place for the 148th time at Cathedral Square in Vilnius. This time, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski will join the event to demonstrate that Belarusians’ support for Ukraine remains unwavering even 1,250 days after the war began, and our solidarity has not faded. Come […]
July 23, 2025
Official comment by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya regarding the statement by Lithuanian Seimas member Vytautas Sinica
The Belarusian democratic community values the long-standing support of Lithuania, its government, and people, and thanks it for standing by Belarusians in their peaceful struggle for democratic and European transformation, and for helping those who face persecution or have been forced into exile due to repression. The statement by a member of the Lithuanian Seimas, […]
July 23, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appealed to Volodymyr Zelenskyy to support the law on the status of Belarusian volunteer fighters
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has sent an official appeal to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, requesting his support and a fast-track process for the adoption of the law that would define the legal status of Belarusian volunteer fighters in Ukraine. Work on the draft law began back in March following a roundtable in Kyiv, in which […]
July 21, 2025
Belarus pension system: Challenges and outlook
The Lukashenka regime likes to call pensions a “social guarantee”. But the truth is they’re not. Belarusians pay for them themselves, and they do so every month. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office has prepared clear answers to key questions about the pension system in Belarus. Is it true that the pension system depends on the number of […]
July 21, 2025
Meetings at NATO, aid for independent media, 5th anniversary of the 2020 protests. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: July 14–20
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROTESTS The democratic forces are preparing to mark the 5th anniversary of the 2020 presidential election. On this day, they call on the international community to support Belarusians in their struggle for freedom. The New Belarus Conference in Warsaw will bring together all bodies of the democratic forces and civil society […]
July 18, 2025
Dzianis Kuchynski participated in the Aspen Security Forum and met with Trump administration officials
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, visited the United States to hold meetings at the White House, the State Department, and Congress. He also participated in the Aspen Security Forum. The agenda included the release of political prisoners, Belarus–US cooperation, and regional security. At the White House, Mr. Kuchynski met with Andy Baker, who serves […]
July 18, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Italian Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
During the session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with the Italian parliamentary delegation led by Lorenzo Cesa. Mr. Cesa emphasized that the situation in Belarus is regularly discussed in the Italian parliament, noting that Italy is home to the largest parliamentary group “For a Democratic Belarus” – bringing […]
July 18, 2025
“The Office remains committed and continues to carry its share of responsibility”
In a new video message, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya explains why the release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski has not created divisions within the democratic forces – but instead became an important result of a collective effort. The democratic leader emphasizes that her Office continues its work until all political prisoners are released and democratic changes come to Belarus. […]
July 18, 2025
Dzianis Kuchynski met with President Trump’s Deputy National Security Advisor Andy Baker
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, is on a working visit to Washington, D.C. At the White House, he was received by the Deputy National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor to Vice President J.D. Vance, Andy Baker. Mr. Kuchynski handed Mr. Baker a letter addressed to the President of the […]
July 17, 2025
“You don’t need big money or grand gestures to help someone. Just do not pass by when you can support even one person”
Mutual aid has long been a defining feature of Belarusian society. Belarusians quickly raise funds for urgent needs, help children and animals, and donate to initiatives that survive solely thanks to solidarity. This is crucial now, when support is needed almost everywhere. In her new video, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks about the importance of not turning […]
July 17, 2025
Statement by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Legal Advisor Leanid Marozau on the presentation of the Belarusian civil society’s Alternative SDG Report
Belarusian civil society has released its Alternative Report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Implementation ahead of the presentation of the Belarus regime’s Voluntary National Review at the UN. The 83-page document exposes manipulations hidden behind official statistics and reflects the true situation in the country. Leanid Marozau: “Your work is not just analysis. It is […]
July 16, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Marcos Perestrello
As part of her visit to Brussels, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Marcos Perestrello. The discussion focused on regional security, interparliamentary cooperation, the release of political prisoners, and continued support for Ukraine. “Belarus is an integral part of Europe’s regional security. But I want Belarus to be […]
July 15, 2025
EU Commissioner Kos announced a new support package for Belarusian independent media and human rights defenders during a meeting with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
During her visit to Brussels, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Marta Kos. Following the meeting, the Commissioner announced a new EU aid package for Belarus, focused on assisting independent journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society activists During the conversation, the parties also addressed the possibility of further support […]