European Political Community Summit, visit to Poland, restrictions at EU border. Updates of work of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office for July 15-21, 2024
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COMMUNITY SUMMIT Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the European Political Community Summit held on July 18 in the UK. She was invited by the new UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. During the Summit, the Belarusian leader met with leaders from countries such as Germany, Ukraine, Finland, Italy, Spain, Moldova, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia, Denmark, the […]
July 22, 2024
“Indifference and trust in propaganda lead to catastrophic consequences”: 30 Years of Dictatorship in 30 Posters
July 20, 2024, marks 30 years of Lukashenka’s authoritarian rule in Belarus, and for our country, this is truly a “dark anniversary”. With so many elections within just a year, a complex geopolitical situation, and the war in Ukraine, now is a time of great trials for the global democratic and progressive movement. Amidst this […]
July 20, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Legal Advisor Leanid Marozau’s statement on death sentence given to a foreigner in Belarus
Leanid Marozau: “Today, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office was informed about the case initiated by the Lukashenka regime against a German citizen. Rico Krieger was charged under several terrorism-related articles, resulting in a death sentence after the trial. We contacted representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office to share evidence showing that a foreign citizen in Belarus […]
July 19, 2024
Aid to political prisoners, support for civil society, preservation of Belarusian culture. Key points from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s meetings during European Political Community Summit
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the European Political Community Summit in the United Kingdom, where she held negotiations with the leaders of several countries. ⚪️ With the new leadership of the United Kingdom – the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the Foreign Minister, David Lammy, – the Belarusian leader discussed the political situation in Belarus. She […]
July 19, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Prime Minister of Iceland
During the European Political Community Summit in the United Kingdom, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Prime Minister of Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Iceland has been one of the most active advocates for Belarus on the international stage. I was pleased to meet the Prime Minister of Iceland. I proposed that Iceland join the efforts […]
July 19, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Foreign Minister of Armenia
During the European Political Community Summit in the United Kingdom, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I was pleased to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, as well as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, at the summit. I expressed words of support and gratitude for […]
July 19, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Prime Minister of Slovenia
During the European Political Community Summit in the United Kingdom, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The Prime Minister of Slovenia and I discussed the legalization of stay in the country for Belarusians. I thanked him for the decision to issue alien passports and discussed the issues faced […]
July 19, 2024
Release for political prisoners and international support. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Emmanuel Macron
During the European Political Community Summit, the Belarusian leader met with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. Their discussion focused on aid for political prisoners in Belarus and efforts to achieve their release. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya urged Mr. Macron to emphasize this issue and help free the political prisoners whose situation is becoming increasingly critical. The […]
July 19, 2024
“This restriction does not solve any problems”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed border closures with Prime Minister of Latvia
During the European Political Community Summit in the United Kingdom, the Belarusian leader met with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Siliņa. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya highlighted the contentious nature of the recent decisions by the Baltic states to restrict the entry of Belarusian-registered vehicles. She emphasized that these measures primarily affect Belarusians, not the regime, and […]
July 19, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with President of Lithuania in the UK
The Belarusian leader met with the Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nausėda, on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit. Mr. Nausėda and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the implications of the entry ban for Belarusian-registered vehicles introduced by the EU countries. The leader called for finding ways to resolve this problem, including through easing the restrictions. Sviatlana […]
July 18, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with leaders of Poland during European Political Community Summit
During the European Political Community Summit in the UK, the Belarusian leader met with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, and the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya and the Polish leadership discussed: 📎 Ways to free political prisoners, including Andrzej Poczobut; 📎 The situation at the border; 📎 Support for […]
July 18, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is participating in European Political Community Summit
The Belarusian leader is on a working visit to the United Kingdom, where she is participating in the European Political Community Summit alongside leaders from 46 other countries. During the summit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya intends to raise the following issues: 🖇️ Support for political prisoners in Belarus and efforts to achieve their release; 🖇️ Implications of […]
July 18, 2024
“It’s hard for Belarusians to understand what democracy is. They have never lived in one”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at LAMPA Festival
At the LAMPA Festival in Cēsis, Latvia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined a discussion panel “18-” with local youth. The teenagers asked a variety of questions, ranging from Belarus’ political issues to life advice that the Belarusian leader could offer. The youth were particularly interested in hearing about dictatorship. They wondered what it is and how people […]
July 18, 2024
Leanid Marozau was appointed Legal Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
There have been important changes in Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office. Leanid Marozau replaced Kristina Rikhter as the Advisor on Legal Affairs to the Belarusian leader. Mr. Marozau spoke on his appointment with Zerkalo and BELSAT.NEWS addressing his background, motivation, and plans regarding OST’s legal projects. Here are Leanid Marozau’s most notable quotes from the interview: 📌 […]
July 17, 2024
“This invitation is a sign of support for Belarusians who see Belarus as a free, democratic, and European state”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya ahead of European Political Community Summit
The Belarusian leader will join the European Political Community Summit, which will be held on July 18 in the United Kingdom. The event will be attended by 46 European state leaders, as well as the leaders of the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe, and NATO. The participants will include Charles Michel, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel […]
July 17, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Belarusian humanitarian organizations
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continued her working visit to Poland by meeting with Belarusian humanitarian organizations at the Belarusian Youth Hub in Warsaw. Twelve foundations and associations joined the conversation: 📎 Belarusian Medical Solidarity Foundation; 📎 Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners and Former Political Prisoners “FreeBelarusPrisoners”; 📎 Christian Vision; 📎 Volnyja; 📎 Belarusian Association of Political […]
July 17, 2024
“We are working to secure exceptions allowing Belarusians to use their vehicles to enter, exit, and travel within EU”. Franak Viacorka’s comment on restrictions at EU border
Latvia has introduced a ban on the entry of passenger cars registered in Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, comments on the situation: 📌 “The decision-makers who imposed the restrictions did not consider the political consequences. The restrictions impact pro-European sentiments among Belarusians, further legitimize the regime, and lump Belarus together with Russia and […]
July 16, 2024
“We have a mutual agreement that restrictions must not affect passenger transportation”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s comment on restrictions at EU border
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Restrictions on the entry of Belarusian-registered vehicles are a hasty and harmful decision. It primarily hurts the people, not the Lukashenka regime. Therefore, we are trying to convince our partners to revert or amend this decision. We are in contact with Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, emphasizing the need to make exceptions for Belarusians […]
July 16, 2024
Visit to the US, Coordination Council speakers, Tutaka Festival. Updates of work of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office for July 8-14, 2024
VISIT TO THE USA From July 9 to 12, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Washington, where she participated in the NATO Public Forum at the invitation of the Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. During the visit, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and co-authored an op-ed with Nancy Pelosi for The Washington Post, highlighting tyranny in […]
July 16, 2024
“While some are waiting for changes for the better, others are working on them every day”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with former political prisoners
An important part of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s working visit to Poland was a meeting with former Belarusian political prisoners. The event was organized by and hosted at the Belarusian Youth Hub with the help of Volnyja, which supports the reintegration and resocialization of political prisoners after their release. Former political prisoners shared their stories with the […]
July 16, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Yet again Belarusians prove that in times of disaster, we are stronger than state institutions”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Belarusians for their solidarity in dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane: “A terrible hurricane has struck Belarus. Six people died, including two children. Such a tragic loss. Let me offer my deepest condolences to their families and loved ones… Many people in southern Belarus have been left without water and electricity […]
July 15, 2024
Evolution of Belarusian business community in exile: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Association of Belarusian Business Abroad
During her working visit to Poland, the Belarusian leader met with the leadership and members of the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad (ABBA). The meeting involved Belarusian business owners from various cities in Poland and Latvia, representing different economic sectors – from small-scale manufacturing to IT and other business services. The discussion focused on: 📌 […]
July 15, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with leadership of Polish Chamber of Commerce
The Belarusian leader is on a working visit to Poland. She held her first official meeting with the leadership of the Polish Chamber of Commerce, the largest independent business organization in Poland, representing around 300,000 businesses. The Chamber already collaborates with the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad (ABBA), supports trustworthy Belarusian businesses in Poland, and […]
July 15, 2024
“While we Belarusians are scattered across the world, our culture, history, and language keep us together”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at TUTAKA Festival
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the TUTAKA Belarusian Festival, where she met with diplomats and activists, visited a market of Belarusian craftspeople, and participated in several cultural events. As usual, conversations with Belarusians were a significant part of her visit. In Podlasie, the evening was filled with sincere discussions about important and concerning issues for Belarusians. Ms. […]
July 14, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on anniversary of Ales Bialiatski’s arrest
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Three years ago, the regime attempted to destroy Viasna, the largest Belarusian human rights organization. To achieve this, they fabricated criminal cases to imprison members of the movement: Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Uladzimir Labkovich. They were given lengthy prison sentences simply for legally assisting Belarusians who faced persecution. For the democratic world, […]
July 14, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Estonian Prime Minister and Czech Foreign Minister during NATO Summit
During the NATO Summit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, and the Foreign Minister of Czechia, Jan Lipavský. With Ms. Kallas, they discussed the EU’s strategy vis-a-vis Belarus after the European Parliament election and the work of the Consultative Group, as well as a potential hearing on Belarus with the […]
July 12, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Leader of US House Democratic Caucus
During the NATO Summit, the Belarusian leader met with Hakeem Jeffries, the Leader of the Democratic Caucus in the US House of Representatives. During the meeting, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked Mr. Jeffries and other House members for supporting the Belarusian people and the solidarity campaigns for political prisoners in Belarus. She also discussed the latest sentences […]
July 12, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Iceland’s Foreign Minister
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland assured Ms. Tsikhanouskaya of Iceland’s support for the democratic forces of Belarus. The Belarusian leader spoke about the situation with independent media and political prisoners and called for efforts towards their release. Ms. […]
July 12, 2024
“Lukashenka continues policies started by communists”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at Captive Nations Summit
The Belarusian leader participated in an international conference dedicated to Captive Nations Week. The event took place at the Victims of Communism Museum during the NATO Summit in Washington, where participants discussed how the legacy of totalitarianism affects current events in Eastern Europe. In her speech, the Belarusian leader highlighted the consequences of communism for […]
July 12, 2024