Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “No matter how long you’ve been away – for the regime, there is no statute of limitations”
The regime continues detaining people returning to Belarus. According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, at least 55 such people have been detained in 2024 so far, with more than 200 cases recorded last year. The Belarusian leader comments on the arrests of Belarusians returning home from abroad: “The regime is trying to lure us […]
September 17, 2024
Belarusian-registered vehicles, support for civil society, free education for Belarusians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Latvia’s Special Representative
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, her Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, and Representative for Estonia and Latvia, Vitaly Malchanau, met with Latvia’s newly-appointed Special Representative to the Belarusian democratic community, Gunta Pastore. The meeting focused on the restrictions recently introduced in Latvia against Belarusian-registered vehicles, whose owners cannot return to Belarus due to political persecution. In addition, the parties […]
September 16, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on release of political prisoners
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, another 37 political prisoners were announced to be released. I rejoice for every family that, after such difficult trials, will finally experience the long-awaited happiness of being reunited. I am happy for every child who will embrace their freed mother and hear a bedtime story told by their much-missed father. I am […]
September 16, 2024
Accountability for human rights violations, support for political prisoners, Andrei Hniot’s case, international cooperation. Updates of work of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office for September 9-15
ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE LUKASHENKA REGIME Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, along with Lithuania’s Minister of Justice, addressed the opening of the international conference “Accountability for Crimes and Human Rights Violations in Belarus” in Vilnius. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for gathering evidence of the regime’s crimes, applying universal jurisdiction, and using international court mechanisms to hold the regime accomplices to […]
September 16, 2024
Visas and legalization of stay for Belarusians, cooperation during Italy’s G7 Presidency: Dzianis Kuchynski’s working visit to Italy
During his working visit to Italy, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, met with representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of the Interior, and the country’s Parliament. With Italian politicians, he discussed strengthening support for Belarusians, Italy’s cooperation with the democratic forces of Belarus, and other issues. During his meetings with the Chief […]
September 14, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Restoring justice is not just a necessity; it is our only path back to democracy”
The Belarusian leader spoke at the opening of the international conference “Accountability for Crimes and Human Rights Violations in Belarus”. In her speech, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for international support and efforts to hold those responsible for the repression against the Belarusian people accountable. She specifically highlighted the absurd sentences that people in Belarus have been […]
September 13, 2024
United States will continue supporting democratic Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with US Deputy Secretary of State in Vilnius
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, during his visit to Vilnius. While she expressed her gratitude to the United States for its support and solidarity, the US representative emphasized that the United States will continue to support the people of Belarus and the democratic community. The parties discussed the […]
September 13, 2024
Five Belarusians received scholarships under Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s patronage at MCI Management Center Innsbruck
Among the first scholarship recipients is Aliaksandra Pushkina, who is a board member at the Zerkalo media outlet. She will study at MCI Management Center Innsbruck in Austria, where she will major in Management, Communication, and IT. The scholarship program, launched under the honorary patronage of Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, was the result of her visit to […]
September 13, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Secretary General of Estonian Foreign Ministry
The Belarusian leader, accompanied by her Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, and Representative for Estonia and Latvia, Vitaly Malchanau, met with the Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jonatan Vseviov. During the meeting, the parties discussed: 📌 The need to distinguish between the people of Belarus and the Lukashenka regime; 📌 The current […]
September 12, 2024
Meetings with Belarusian refugees and former political prisoners, the release of a Belarusian woman in Armenia, and plans for 2025. Updates of work of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office for September 2-8
ESCALATION AT THE BELARUSIAN-UKRAINIAN BORDER Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the regime’s attempts to escalate the situation at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border and the dictator’s statements about the concentration of Belarusian troops in border areas. On September 5, two Russian kamikaze drones, known as “Shahed,” were shot down in Belarus. This is not the first incident; in recent […]
September 12, 2024
Statement by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Andrei Hniot’s case
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office welcomes the decision by an appeals court in Serbia to cancel Andrei Hniot’s extradition. However, we would like to emphasize that the cancellation of the extradition is not the final resolution of the case. The democratic forces, human rights defenders, and international partners will continue the struggle for Andrei’s freedom. We will […]
September 11, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Belarusian Orthodox parish in Vilnius after attack
The Belarusian leader met with priests and believers of the Belarusian Orthodox parish in Vilnius. During the meeting, she was given a tour of the church and told about the parish’s history and its mission – to work with Belarusians worldwide, including those inside the country. Representatives from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including […]
September 11, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I strive to talk to everyone and try to find consensus”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was interviewed by Dmytro Gordon’s channel, where she shared her thoughts on why Belarusians and Ukrainians need to talk about their pain and support each other. She also emphasized that the democratic forces represent the majority of Belarusians. Here are some interesting points from the conversation: 📌 “I am one of the people […]
September 10, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited A2 Print Belarusian store in Vilnius
The Belarusian leader visited the A2 Print store, where she met with the project’s co-founder, former political prisoner Alesya Bunevich, and her partners. They shared the story of how the store was created, how they worked during Alesya’s imprisonment, and how they not only managed to keep the business going but also expanded it. This […]
September 10, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s 550 days in incommunicado detention
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “It has been 550 days since I last heard from Siarhei. For 550 days, I haven’t known if he sees the letters from Ahniya and Karnei, who wait for their father every day. Not hearing from him for so long feels like one endless, painful day. Incommunicado detention is an unbearable burden for […]
September 09, 2024
“As it was 500 years ago, truth and justice are on our side”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Day of Military Glory
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today we celebrate the Day of Belarusian Military Glory – a day when our people achieved one of the most glorious victories in our history. In 1514, during the Battle of Orsha, our ancestors managed to halt the same expansionist ambitions of the Russian state that the modern world is now fighting against. […]
September 08, 2024
Action plan for 2025, support for volunteer fighters and Belarusians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with former political prisoners in Vilnius
The Belarusian leader met with a group of former political prisoners at her Office in Vilnius. Some of the participants had only recently left Belarus and shared their personal stories about their imprisonment and release, the atmosphere inside the country, and people’s attitudes toward the situation. The former political prisoners asked Ms. Tsikhanouskaya questions that […]
September 07, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I want to come back home, I don’t want to be in exile for the rest of my life”
In an interview with the Polish publication PAP, the Belarusian leader called for efforts to free political prisoners in Belarus and support Belarusians in exile, while also stating that it is people, not sanctions, who can change the situation in Belarus. Here are the key points from the conversation: 📌 “I want to come back […]
September 06, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s comment on Russian UAVs flying over Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Russian combat drones and Belarusian military planes are now flying over our families. Two Russian Shahed kamikaze drones were shot down over Belarus in the early hours of September 5. Today, it was fragments of downed drones falling on Belarusians. So what will we witness tomorrow? It is clear that the Lukashenka regime […]
September 05, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited shelter for Belarusians in Vilnius
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the “Zamak” shelter run by the Dapamoga NGO in Vilnius. The Belarusian leader was given a tour of the shelter, which has become home to many Belarusians after having to leave the country for political reasons. The highlight of the evening was Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s heartfelt conversation with the residents of “Zamak”. Here’s […]
September 05, 2024
Statement by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on recent acts of vandalism in Vilnius
We strongly condemn the recent acts of vandalism in Vilnius targeting Belarusian organizations and institutions. The shooting at the windows of the Belarusian Orthodox parish, the shattered windows of the Belarusian Cultural Center, and the offensive graffiti near the Dapamoga refugee shelter are aggressive actions intended to intimidate freedom-loving Belarusians who have found refuge in […]
September 05, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s comment on abuse in women’s prisons in Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Every time I hear about the abuse women face in Belarusian prisons, I can’t hold back tears. My heart is sinking today after I learned about the worsening health condition of political prisoner Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk. She suffers from chronic pancreatitis — a disease that requires constant medical supervision and a strict diet. Instead, […]
September 04, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on release of 30 political prisoners
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The release of 30 more political prisoners was announced today. Many of them are parents of minor children. I can’t help but feel overwhelming joy knowing that these kids will finally get to hug their parents, and families will be reunited after such painful separations. But we still have a long way to […]
September 04, 2024
New page on ways to support political prisoners on Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s website
Over 1,400 Belarusians are behind bars on political grounds, and each day of their imprisonment is a day of life they sacrifice for a free Belarus. The new page on political prisoners offers essential information on how you can help: 📌 Facts and statistics. The page provides information about the repressions in Belarus, as well […]
September 03, 2024
Summit of Belarusians of North America, Andrei Hniot’s trial, deportations from Sweden. Updates of work of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office for August 26 to September 1, 2024
MEETING WITH MEPs Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Lithuanian Members of the European Parliament to discuss the strategy ahead of the 2025 election in Belarus, the situation on the Belarusian border with Ukraine, and the deportation of Belarusians from the EU. The parties also discussed support for Belarus on the EU agenda and cooperation between democratic […]
September 03, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Knowledge Day address
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addresses Belarusian parents on September 1, when the school year starts in Belarus: Every year on September 1, I find myself amazed at how quickly time flies. It feels like just yesterday that Siarhei and I, nervous but proud parents, were walking Karnei to his first day of school. And now, I can […]
September 01, 2024
Marharyta Vorykhava: “How can our youth blossom in a system that stifles free thinking and innovation?”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, comments on Lukashenka’s proposal to create a Harvard-style “educational hub” in Belarus: “Lukashenka’s idea that ‘Belarusian talents must stay in the country’ might sound appealing on paper but we all know the truth. How can our youth blossom in a system that stifles free thinking […]
August 30, 2024
Franak Viacorka’s comment on asylum denials for Belarusians in Sweden
In recent days, after two Belarusian citizens were deported from Sweden, with one of them arrested right at the border, there have been significant discussions about the asylum situation for Belarusians in Sweden. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, shares what Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office has done in response to the situation. 📎 Consultations are ongoing […]
August 30, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Lithuanian MEPs to discuss international support strategy for Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Members of the European Parliament from Lithuania, Andrius Kubilius and Rasa Juknevičienė, today in Vilnius. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya congratulated the MEPs on their re-election, and Andrius Kubilius on his nomination for Lithuania’s Representative in the European Commission. During the meeting, they discussed the strategy ahead of the so-called 2025 election in Belarus. […]
August 29, 2024