Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Polish Senate Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as the Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, met with the Speaker of the Polish Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska. Ms. Tsihanouskaya was accompanied by her Deputy, Pavel Latushka, and the Speaker of the Coordination Council, Artsiom Brukhan. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Poland for receiving released political prisoners and for the extraordinary support provided by the […]
January 15, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked volunteers supporting political prisoners and their families
During her visit to Warsaw on January 14, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with volunteers who provide daily support to political prisoners from Belarus and their families. About 40 people took part in the discussion, including representatives of the Volnyja, who assist former Belarusian political prisoners with adaptation and reintegration. The meeting was organized by Volnyja’s Coordinator […]
January 15, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki
On January 14, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki. This was the first bilateral meeting in Warsaw since Mr. Nawrocki was elected; previously, the leaders had met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked President Nawrocki and Poland for their support for Belarus and the Belarusian people, […]
January 15, 2026
Polish President Karol Nawrocki held a Christmas reception for Belarusians
The President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, held a Christmas reception for Belarusians. The event took place for the fourth consecutive year and has a unique character, as the President of Poland brings together representatives of the Belarusian democratic community. More than 150 people attended, including journalists, bloggers, cultural figures, human rights defenders, politicians, actors, musicians, […]
January 15, 2026
How did the human rights situation in Belarus change in 2025?
The Viasna Human Rights Center has published its annual report documenting the real state of human rights in Belarus. Key findings of the report are as follows: In 2025, the practice of “silent repression” intensified. Public information about court hearings was discontinued, while access to the database of court decisions was closed; Over the year, […]
January 15, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno
On December 12, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, at the Office in Vilnius. The parties discussed the current situation of political prisoners in Belarus, regional security, and the role of the European Union in countering authoritarianism. They also discussed the Third Cross-Party Forum “8+100”, scheduled to […]
January 13, 2026
Representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office joined events marking Lithuania’s Day of the Defenders of Freedom
Representatives of the democratic forces of Belarus took part in events dedicated to Lithuania’s Day of the Defenders of Freedom. On January 10, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, and Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, joined a solidarity run from Antakalnis Cemetery to the Vilnius TV Tower. Thousands of Lithuanians participated in the run, […]
January 13, 2026
Meeting at the Polish Prime Minister’s Chancellery, Prastora.info launch. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: January 5–11
VISIT TO POLAND Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, met with the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland, Małgorzata Łatkiewicz-Pawlak. The parties discussed key plans for 2026 and ways to strengthen Poland’s cooperation with the democratic forces of Belarus, with an emphasis on practical steps and […]
January 13, 2026
Support for Belarusians, plans for the year ahead, and closer cooperation: Talks at Polish Prime Minister Tusk’s Chancellery
Today, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, met with the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland, Małgorzata Łatkiewicz-Pawlak. The parties discussed key plans for 2026 and ways to strengthen Poland’s cooperation with the democratic forces of Belarus, with an emphasis on practical steps and coordination. Assistance […]
January 09, 2026
Prastora.info – a place where Belarusians shape the future together
In late December, the Prastora website was launched – a platform where everyone can take part in developing the legislation of a New Belarus. The platform is designed for open dialogue about: the new Constitution; laws and reforms. Prastora.info aims to return citizens’ right to participate in decision-making and real influence over the future of […]
January 09, 2026
Monthly recap: December. Key events, new research, and notable achievements of Belarusian activists and NGOs
The Center for New Ideas published a study of the regime’s propaganda on Telegram, its content, and audience engagement. The international conference “Belarus: A Part of or Apart from Europe’s Security?” was held in Brussels. The 2025 laureates of the annual Belarusian Human Rights Community Award were announced in Vilnius. The annual Forum of Baltic […]
January 06, 2026
Release of political prisoners and support for the repressed, non-recognition of the 2025 sham election, over 300 high-level meetings. What did Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Democratic Belarus Missions achieve in 2025?
In 2025, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Democratic Belarus Missions worked across several key areas: the release of political prisoners and support for those repressed; non-recognition of the 2025 sham election; legal and international legal accountability mechanisms; security and strategy; support for Belarusians inside the country and in exile; assistance to youth and women; cultural […]
January 02, 2026
New Year’s address by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the democratic forces
December 31, 2025
2026 New Year’s address by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the democratic forces: Full text
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: Dear Belarusians, As children, we often played a game on New Year’s Eve. We decided what we would take with us into the new year and what we would leave behind in the old one. We wrote it down on small pieces of paper — sometimes funny, sometimes serious. We tore up the […]
December 31, 2025
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulates all Belarusians who celebrate Christmas on December 25: “This holiday always brings us back to simple things: family conversations, a quiet evening, and the sense that we are surrounded by people who truly care about us. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Wishing you bright and peaceful holidays, […]
December 24, 2025
Released political prisoners held a press conference in Vilnius
On December 22, a press conference took place in Vilnius with the participation of political prisoners who arrived in Lithuania on December 18 after being released in Belarus on December 13 and forcibly expelled to Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also took part in the press conference. The former political prisoners spoke about their experience of imprisonment, […]
December 23, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the continued persecution of journalists in Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “28 Belarusian journalists are behind bars. Sometimes statistics tell more about a country’s authorities than long speeches. According to new data, Belarus ranks 4th in the world in the number of imprisoned journalists. Ahead of it are only China, Russia, and Myanmar. Notably, these are countries with which the Lukashenka regime so eagerly […]
December 23, 2025
Political prisoners’ arrival in Lithuania and Poland, meeting with the Lithuanian President. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Office: December 15–21
POLITICAL PRISONERS’ ARRIVAL IN WARSAW AND VILNIUS Over 100 political prisoners, recently released and deported from Belarus, arrived from Ukraine to Vilnius and Warsaw. They were welcomed by family members, volunteers, and representatives of Belarus’ democratic forces. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated them on their freedom and emphasized that the fight for those still imprisoned continues. The […]
December 23, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the press conference of political prisoners in Vilnius
Dear Excellencies, dear friends, First, I would like to honor the memory of Mikita Melkaziorau. Yesterday, Belarus lost a great son, a talented journalist who worked tirelessly for Belarus and continuously raised the issue of political prisoners. This is a great loss for the Belarusian people. We will all miss you, Mikita. Rest in peace. […]
December 22, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expresses condolences to the family and loved ones of Mikita Melkaziorau
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “It’s hard to accept that this is true. It feels as though this simply could not have happened. Sadly, on the night of December 21, journalist and host of Zhytstsio-Malina Mikita Melkaziorau passed away. Mikita had a rare gift – he knew how to give people the space to be themselves. His work […]
December 21, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s International Migrants Day address
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “For Belarusians, this issue is particularly painful. After 2020, Belarus experienced the largest wave of forced emigration in its modern history. Between 500,000 and 600,000 people left the country. That’s tens of thousands of broken lives and separated families. A vast number of people continue to leave the country, as the sense of […]
December 20, 2025
A group of released Belarusian political prisoners arrived in Vilnius
Twenty of the 123 people who were released on December 13 and expelled from Belarus arrived in Vilnius from Ukraine. Among them are politician Pavel Seviarynets and human rights defender Uladz Labkovich. In Vilnius, the released prisoners were met by their relatives, volunteers, activists, and representatives of the democratic forces of Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed […]
December 18, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Ales Bialiatski met with Lithuanian Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas
On December 17, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Ales Bialiatski met with the Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania, Juozas Olekas, at the Lithuanian Parliament. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, and her Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, also joined the meeting. The parties discussed the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, as well as cooperation […]
December 18, 2025
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda received Ales Bialiatski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
On December 15, the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, received Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, who was released from prison on December 13 and deported to Lithuania. During the meeting, President Nausėda emphasized Ales Bialiatski’s courage and steadfastness, noting that his resilience, moral strength, and commitment to […]
December 18, 2025
Release of 123 political prisoners. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: December 8–14
RELEASE OF 123 POLITICAL PRISONERS On December 13, 123 political prisoners were released in Belarus, including Maryia Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, Ales Bialiatski, Maksim Znak, Uladzimir Labkovich, Maryna Zolatava, Aliaksandr Fiaduta, Pavel Seviarynets, and others. Some of the prisoners, including Ales Bialiatski, were deported to Lithuania, others to Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the released prisoners at […]
December 17, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received the Margaret Thatcher Award
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received the Margaret Thatcher Award in Rome, presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and principled commitment to defending freedom. In her speech, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya noted that the Belarusian revolution is often called a “revolution with a woman’s face”, dedicating the award to the brave Belarusian women who have become symbols […]
December 15, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Parliamentary Group “For a Democratic Belarus” in Italy
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with representatives of the Group “For a Democratic Belarus” in the Italian Parliament in Rome today. She thanked the MPs for their solidarity and steadfast support for Belarus – both in international organizations and in their assistance to Belarusian refugees, former political prisoners, and volunteers who fought for Ukraine. She stressed that […]
December 15, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the release of 123 political prisoners
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, 123 political prisoners were released after being illegally deprived of their freedom for a long time. Among them are Maryia Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, Ales Bialiatski, Maksim Znak, Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, Maryna Zolatava, Aliaksandr Fiaduta, Pavel Seviarynets, and others. For their relatives and loved ones, this is a moment of relief after […]
December 14, 2025
5 years of the People’s Embassies! Answering the key questions
On December 10, the People’s Embassies of Belarus mark their fifth anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, we answer the main questions about the project. 1) What are the People’s Embassies? The People’s Embassies of Belarus are a network of democratic representations abroad, created by Belarusians for Belarusians in 2020. They perform the functions that official […]
December 12, 2025