New Belarus Transition Strategy: Why is it relevant?
A change of power in authoritarian regimes does not always lead to democracy. As historical practices in Haiti, Syria, North Korea, and several other countries have shown, a dictatorship is often replaced by another dictatorship. This is why Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, together with the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, and numerous experts, has developed […]
December 15, 2023
Scholarships and academic exchanges for Belarusians: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Ghent University in Belgium
At the end of her working visit to Belgium, the Belarusian leader visited Ghent University, where she held a meeting with the university leadership and delivered a lecture. Dozens of Belarusians are currently studying at the university, which is the alma mater of two Nobel laureates. During the discussion with the Vice-Rector, Mieke Van Herreweghe, […]
December 15, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Lithuanians: “I am grateful for your support in difficult times”
After talks with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Lithuanian Seimas, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the press. In an interview, the leader thanked the Lithuanian people for their support and noted that Lithuania has been showing an example of principled and consistent struggle for freedom: “I am grateful to the Lithuanian people for supporting us […]
December 14, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke before Lithuanian Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee on issues faced by Belarusians
Today, at the initiative of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Lithuanian Seimas held a hearing on the legal status of Belarusians in Lithuania. The Chairman of the Committee, Žygimantas Pavilionis, and his deputies, as well as members of the group “For a Democratic Belarus”, participated in the hearings. The Belarusian side […]
December 14, 2023
European Parliament demanded immediate release of political prisoners and compensation for damages
On December 6, the Cross-Party Forum “8+100” took place in the European Parliament, bringing together representatives of Belarusian and European political parties. Following the forum, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation of political prisoners in Belarus. The resolution demands the regime to immediately release Mikalai Statkevich, who has not been heard from […]
December 14, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “They can ‘ban’ books but they can never prohibit us from taking pride in our culture and history”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Lately, the regime has been attacking the works of “disloyal” contemporary authors and “inconvenient” classics. In November, the regime labeled collections of Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkyevich’s works as extremist. Earlier, the novel “Kalasy pad Siarpom Tvaim” by Uladzimir Karatkevich was removed from the school curriculum. Books by Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich and writers like Uladzimir […]
December 14, 2023
Strengthening ties with EU, releasing political prisoners, enhancing Belarusians’ mobility: second meeting of Belarus–EU Consultative Group
Today, the second meeting of the Belarus–EU Consultative Group is taking place in Brussels. Belarus is represented by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, Viktar Babaryka’s HQ, Press Club Belarus, RADA Youth Council, and Belarusian human rights defenders. The dialogue with democratic forces is led by representatives of the […]
December 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, United Transitional Cabinet and Coordination Council presented New Belarus Transition Strategy for public discussion
Once the regime collapses, Belarusians will have a chance to establish democracy. How can they seize the opportunity, avoid legal chaos, and prevent attempts at revenge from the remnants of the dictatorship? This requires a premeditated plan. This is why Belarusian political bodies, civil society organizations, and think-tanks in the fields of economics, politics, strategic […]
December 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the meeting of the Consultative Group, Brussels, 2023
“Dear Michael Siebert, Dear members of the Consultative Group, Мае дарагія беларускія сябры, I am glad to be here with you today for the second meeting of the EU-Belarus Consultative Group. I really feel that I am among friends in this room. Friends who share the same values, and see Belarus as a part of […]
December 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström in Belgium
During her visit to Brussels, the Belarusian leader met with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström, and Sweden’s Special Envoy for Relations with Democratic Belarus, Christina Johannesson. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed her hope for such an envoy at the EU level. The leader raised the issue of the legalization of stay for Belarusians abroad […]
December 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated Donald Tusk on being elected Prime Minister
The Belarusian leader congratulated Donald Tusk on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Poland. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Heartfelt congratulations to Donald Tusk on becoming the Prime Minister of Poland. I am grateful to you for all the support you have provided to Belarus over the years. And I hope for close cooperation that will accelerate […]
December 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with President of Belgian Senate
During the meeting, the President of the Belgian Senate, Stephanie D’Hose, showed great interest in the situation in Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke in detail about the crackdown in the country, which continues unabated. The parties discussed interparliamentary cooperation, particularly within the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which can help hold the Belarusian regime accountable for its involvement in […]
December 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Minister-President of Flanders Jan Jambon
The meeting took place in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and Flanders. Flanders is one of the three regions of Belgium, with almost 60% of the country’s population. Flanders has actively supported Belarus since 2020, providing premises for the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Brussels, offering assistance to cultural initiatives, and supporting Belarusian volunteers in […]
December 11, 2023
Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus agreed on training Belarusian lawyers
During its latest session, the Council of Europe’s Contact Group on Belarus outlined a series of measures aimed at strengthening democracy and human rights in the country. The key step achieved was the agreement on seminars and training for Belarusian lawyers according to the Council of Europe standards, along with the translation of HELP (European […]
December 11, 2023
EU announced additional aid for Belarusian democratic forces and civil society
At the beginning of her working trip to Brussels, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya conducted a joint briefing with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. During the briefing, they addressed the issues of achieving the release of political prisoners, supporting the democratic forces and civil society, as well as […]
December 11, 2023
Remarks of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels, 2023
“Dear High Representative Borrel, Honorable Ministers, It is my honor and privilege to speak to you on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The case of Belarus shows how disrespect for human rights leads to security problems. Dear Josep, thank you for making this conversation possible, and to you, ministers, for […]
December 11, 2023
Metsola and Tsikhanouskaya: Challenging the Dictatorship
We cannot forget the people of Belarus. Their fight for freedom and democracy embodies the values that the European Union is built upon. By Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Roberta Metsola In their quiet struggle for freedom and democracy, the people of Belarus represent a beacon of courage and resilience. Despite decades of authoritarian rule and systematic […]
December 11, 2023
Statement by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya during joint press briefing with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell
On December 10, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states. During a joint briefing held at the invitation of Mr. Borrell, the Belarusian leader made the following statement: “I want to thank High Representative […]
December 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Visits Brussels for High-Level Meetings and Lecture at Ghent University
Brussels, December 10-12 – Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, arrives in Brussels for a series of important engagements aimed at furthering the cause of democracy in Belarus and strengthening ties with European partners. During her visit, Tsikhanouskaya is scheduled to address EU Foreign Ministers at the invitation of EU High Representative Josep Borrell. Her address will cover critical […]
December 10, 2023
European Parliament prepared resolution on political prisoners and refused to recognize regime’s 2024 “election”: results of Cross-Party Forum “8+100”
The Cross-Party Forum “8+100” was held in the European Parliament, bringing together representatives of Belarusian and European political parties. Anatoli Liabedzka, Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, spoke about the results of the Forum: “The Forum “8+100” started when eight Belarusian parties declared in the European Parliament: we are working […]
December 10, 2023
Belarus–U.S. Strategic Dialogue concluded in Washington
One of the most significant political events of December concluded today in Washington. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, accompanied by representatives of the democratic forces, and U.S. politicians conducted three days of negotiations as part of the Belarus-USA Strategic Dialogue. On the last day, the discussions centered around: – Support for Belarusian culture, language, and national identity. – […]
December 09, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at Atlantic Council Freedom and Security side event in Washington DC, 2023
“Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Chris Smith, Your excellency Ambassador Herbst, Dear friends, First, I’d like to thank our dear host, the Atlantic Council, for many years of support. Since 2020, every day and every week, you were covering the protests, repressions, and you were trying to keep Belarus high on the agenda here in the […]
December 09, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with David Cameron and 8 national representatives at IMF during visit to United States
The Belarusian leader, accompanied by her Economic Advisor and Vice President of АВВА, Aleś Alachnovič, as well as BEROC representative, Dzmitry Kruk, met with the representatives of Lithuania, Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Spain, Ireland, and Poland at the International Monetary Fund. This was the first such meeting for the democratic forces. Discussions covered plans for […]
December 09, 2023
Democratic forces presented Belarus Green Economy Concept
The whole world is aware that environmental issues must not be ignored. Belarus, having experienced the Chornobyl disaster, knows this particularly well. The depletion of natural resources, environmental pollution, and climate change require innovative and bold solutions, as well as a consistent and thoughtful environmental policy. That is why the Center for Social and Economic […]
December 09, 2023
New visa policy, assistance to political prisoners, special envoy for Belarus: results of democratic forces’ visit to the U.S.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, summarized the results of the Belarus–U.S. Strategic Dialogue between representatives of Belarus’ democratic forces and American politicians conducted in Washington D.C. over two days. Mr. Viacorka emphasized the uniqueness of the event: “Previously, the United States had never conducted a strategic dialogue with a non-governmental body”. He also noted […]
December 08, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on regime’s fund for financing 2024 “election”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, the regime announced the establishment of a fund for additional financing of expenses for the preparation and conduct of the “election” on the “single voting day”. Belarusians are asked to pay out of their own pockets for the deception that the regime officials call an “election”. Belarusians are asked to pay for […]
December 08, 2023
Second day of Strategic Dialogue: what to expect
One of the most important political events of the year, the Belarus–USA Strategic Dialogue, continues in Washington. Today’s discussions will focus on: ✔️ assistance to the private sector and Belarusian businesses; ✔️ support for independent media and combating disinformation. Franak Viacorka, Chief Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, spoke about the participants of the Dialogue, plans for […]
December 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science took part in scientific congress in Philadelphia
The 55th Congress of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies focused on decolonization. During the event, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatsiana Shchyttsova, spoke at a roundtable discussion held on the occasion of the change in the editorial team of “East European Politics and Societies and Cultures”. “The fact that […]
December 07, 2023
Solidarity rally took place near European Parliament in Brussels
Representatives of Belarusian political parties and the Belarusian diaspora in Belgium organized and held a picket of solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus. It was joined by Head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Belarus, Juozas Olekas, and Moldovan MP, member of the parliamentary group “For a Democratic Belarus”, Vitali Gavrouc.
December 07, 2023