Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We simply want to live and thrive in freedom, on our land, speaking our language, and fostering our culture”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya concluded her visit to Iceland by participating in the Nordic Council seminar “Path to a Democratic Belarus”. Over 100 people attended it, including the Nordic Council leadership, parliamentarians, ambassadors, and other guests. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya not only delivered a speech but also joined a discussion with the Foreign Minister of Iceland, Þórdís Kolbrún R. […]
October 31, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with President of Iceland Halla Tómasdóttir
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met for the first time with the new President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, who took office in August 2024. The meeting took place during the Belarusian leader’s visit to Iceland. Ms. Tómasdóttir and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed: 📌 Ways to secure the release of and provide support to political prisoners, including those kept incommunicado; […]
October 31, 2024
How can Nordic Council help democratic Belarus? Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya suggested five practical steps
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is visiting Iceland to take part in the 76th session of the Nordic Council in Reykjavik. Its events are focused on regional security and stability, as well as international cooperation in environmental protection and culture. During a speech, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya outlined five practical steps that the Nordic countries could take today to support […]
October 31, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at Nordic Council plenary session in Reykjavik
During her visit to Iceland, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the plenary session of the Nordic Council and delivered a speech: “Dear President Bryndís Haraldsdóttir, Dear Secretary General Kristina Háfoss Your excellencies, Ministers, Members of Parliaments, Friends, allies. It’s such a pleasure to be back in Iceland. Even though we’re 3,000 kilometers from Belarus, it feels like […]
October 30, 2024
“Today we are opening a new chapter in Nordic-Belarus relations”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya briefed the press following her meetings with the foreign ministers of the Nordic Council member states in Reykjavik: “Dear Ministers, Dear Journalists, I know I am among friends here—friends who share a vision of a united, democratic, and peaceful Europe. Even though we’re 3,000 kilometers from Belarus, it feels like home to me. […]
October 30, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with foreign ministers of Nordic Council countries
During her working visit to Iceland, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held talks with the foreign ministers of the Nordic countries: Maria Malmer Stenergard (Sweden), Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir (Iceland), Espen Barth Eide (Norway), Elina Valtonen (Finland), and Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Denmark). The discussions focused on ways to support and free political prisoners, assistance to Belarusians in exile […]
October 30, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged Nordic ministers to take leadership in supporting Belarus
During her working visit to Iceland, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the Nordic Council session, where she met with the prime ministers and foreign ministers of Nordic countries and attended the speech by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the session held in Reykjavik, the Belarusian leader met with the heads of Norway, Sweden, […]
October 30, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with PMs of Nordic Council countries
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues her working visit to Iceland. Her meeting with the prime ministers of the Nordic Council countries, the first in this format for the Belarusian leader, became the highlight of the visit. With Bjarni Benediktsson (Iceland), Mette Frederiksen (Denmark), Ulf Kristersson (Sweden), Petteri Orpo (Finland), and Jonas Gahr Støre (Norway), Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed: […]
October 29, 2024
Democratic forces’ statement on 2025 presidential “election”, Luxembourg Solutions summary, registration of Belarusian vehicles in Latvia. Updates of work of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office for October 21-27
DEMOCRATIC FORCES’ JOINT STATEMENT ON THE 2025 “ELECTION” The democratic forces of Belarus released a joint statement regarding the 2025 presidential “election” in Belarus, scheduled for January 26. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also addressed Belarusians regarding the sham election PRACTICAL OUTCOMES OF LUXEMBOURG SOLUTIONS Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office released a summary of the recommendations provided in the document […]
October 29, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with parliament speakers from Nordic countries
On October 28, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her visit to Iceland, where the Nordic Council session is taking place. Its events in Reykjavik bring together heads of government, foreign ministers, and MPs from Scandinavian countries. The Head of the United Traditional Cabinet of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were invited as […]
October 29, 2024
Denmark will allocate 700,000 euros to support repressed Belarusians and their families
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her working visit to Iceland, where she will attend the 76th session of the Nordic Council, which unites Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, and the Faroe and Åland Islands with the mission of promoting political, economic, and cultural cooperation among Nordic countries and their parliaments. Alongside participating in the session’s meetings, […]
October 29, 2024
Latvia allowed simplified vehicle registration for Belarusian refugees
The Latvian Saeima adopted an important decision, allowing Belarusian citizens with refugee or alternative status in Latvia to register their vehicles without certification and customs clearance for up to three years. Vitaly Malchanau, who represents Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Estonia and Latvia, thanks the Saeima and its group “For a Democratic Belarus” for the decision.
October 25, 2024
Internships for Belarusians at Council of Europe
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office strives to support Belarusians and encourage them to participate in social and political life. We believe that after the democratic transition, Belarus will need professionals who can apply their diverse and, importantly, modern experience in practice. Therefore, we invite Belarusians to consider internships at the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe’s […]
October 24, 2024
“Today is a special day for Siarhei and me”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya rarely shares details about her personal life and family. But in the video on this special occasion – their 20th marriage anniversary – she talks about Siarhei Tsikhanouski, whom Belarusians mostly know through his YouTube channel. She also talks a little about herself as the person behind the stream of political news and […]
October 24, 2024
Joint statement by the democratic forces of Belarus on the 2025 “election”
A so-called presidential election is scheduled for 2025 in Belarus. In reality, this will be a sham election, as the people have been deprived of any alternative. The electoral campaign is being conducted amid a deep political crisis in the Republic of Belarus. Aliaksandr Lukashenka is unlawfully holding onto power through repression against the Belarusian […]
October 23, 2024
Tatiana Shchyttsova’s statement on closure of language schools in Belarus
Streamline, a major private foreign language school based in Minsk, was recently announced to be closing. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, highlights four main reasons why the Lukashenka regime may have forced it to shut down: 1️⃣ Strong reputation and leadership in educational projects in Belarus. The authorities strive to prevent […]
October 23, 2024
Dollar in Belarus at yearly high: What does this mean for every Belarusian? Explained by Ales Aliakhnovich
The US dollar in Belarus has reached a yearly high. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms, Aleś Alachnovič, explains how this can impact the people: “In recent months, the Belarusian ruble has depreciated by 7% against the US dollar, which means that every Belarusian has become poorer. Dollar-denominated incomes have decreased. As a result, the […]
October 22, 2024
Luxembourg Solutions: Practical outcomes
The Council of Europe PA’s Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons has presented a document titled “The Luxembourg Solutions: Outcomes and Perspectives”. It summarizes the challenges faced by Belarusians in exile after the 2020 presidential election and outlines specific solutions and recommendations to support people in exile. The document focuses on what national parliaments […]
October 22, 2024
Visits to Germany and Poland, Ivulin Cup, Mother’s Day in Belarus. Updates of work of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office for October 14-20
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2025 CAMPAIGN Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, and the Coordination Council are preparing a joint strategy for the regime’s so-called election scheduled for 2025. The democratic forces of Belarus call for its non-recognition and intend to conduct an alternative awareness campaign. VISIT TO GERMANY On October 14-15, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited […]
October 21, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Father’s Day address
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “A new holiday was introduced in Belarus a few years ago – Father’s Day. It was intended to be a bright and kind occasion, meant to strengthen family traditions. But, unfortunately, Lukashenka, like he always does, only tried to create an illusion of care for Belarusians. That’s why today, the pro-regime TV channels […]
October 21, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “My responsibility is to ensure that Belarusians stay inspired and feel like a united nation”
In an interview with Bild, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya shared her thoughts on the sentiment in Belarusian society and whether Lukashenka’s so-called election in 2025 can serve as a trigger to involve or reinvolve Belarusians in politics. “The tension hasn’t eased since 2020. Perhaps we’ve seen peaks and troughs in this tension but Belarusian society is like […]
October 21, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “In a democratic country, sports should stay out of politics”
During her visit to Poland, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Warsaw to kick off the Third Aliaksandr Ivulin Cup. The football tournament, now in its third year, brings together Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Poles in support of political prisoners in Belarus. The competition was founded in 2022 as a show of solidarity with sports journalist Aliaksandr Ivulin, who […]
October 19, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to Belarusian diaspora: “We need to meet more often, support each other, and discuss painful issues”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Gdańsk, Poland, on a working trip, meeting with the Belarusian diaspora. She had an open conversation with almost a hundred guests, listening to people’s requests and proposals and taking note of the issues that concern them to promote their resolution in future meetings with Polish authorities. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also answered Belarusians’ questions, […]
October 19, 2024
SALT 3 launch: Continued support for students and scholars from Belarus
On October 17, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, took part in a meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of SALT (Support to Advanced Learning and Training — EU4Belarus). The program, launched and funded by the European Commission, is administered by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) (Lithuania), with a consortium of […]
October 18, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We can’t give Ukrainians military equipment or millions of dollars. But we can advocate for Ukraine at international arena”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was interviewed by Kyiv Independent during the Warsaw Security Forum, speaking about Belarus’ way to democracy and explaining why a free Belarus could be part of the solution to the crisis. As one of the key messages in the conversation, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for helping Ukraine achieve victory. The leader focused on what […]
October 17, 2024
Summary of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Germany
On October 14-15, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was on an official visit to Germany. She had political meetings in Berlin and joined events discussing the prospects for a democratic Belarus and its European integration. During her visit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Economy and Vice-Chancellor of Germany, Robert Habeck, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, […]
October 16, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Vice-President of Bundestag
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Vice-President of the Bundestag, Yvonne Magwas. Pavel Latushka and Alina Koushyk of the United Transitional Cabinet and Anzhalika Melnikava of the Coordination Council also joined the discussion. During the meeting, the parties discussed several issues, including: 📎 internships for Belarusian youth in Germany; 📎 activities of the group “For a […]
October 16, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received Schwarzkopf Europe Award
During her working visit to Berlin, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was honored with the Schwarzkopf Europe Award, which recognizes people in public life who are particularly committed to a peaceful, unified, and sustainable Europe. Nominations are made exclusively by young Europeans who focus on young topics in the selection process, such as freedom of speech, peaceful coexistence, […]
October 16, 2024
Migration issues, release of political prisoners, visas for Belarusians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Annalena Baerbock
During her working visit to Berlin, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was accompanied by the Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Pavel Latushka, and the Cabinet’s Representative for Foreign Affairs, Vladzimir Astapenka. The parties discussed several key issues during the meeting, including: the release of […]
October 15, 2024