May 02, 2026
International event dedicated to the Chornobyl disaster held in Prague
On April 27, 2026, an international event titled “The Chornobyl Shadow 40 Years Later: Securing the Future of Belarus and Ukraine” took place in Prague, marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster and addressing current nuclear threats in the region. It brought together diplomats, experts, and representatives of the democratic forces of Belarus to […]
May 02, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Ruginienė’s team
Dzianis Kuchynski, who heads Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius and serves as her Diplomatic Advisor, met in Vilnius with the team of Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Ingrida Ruginienė. The Lithuanian side was represented by the Prime Minister Ruginienė’s Diplomatic Advisor, Kęstutis Kudzmanas, and National Security Advisor, Vidmantas Kaladinskas. The parties discussed: the Office’s plans in Lithuania […]
May 01, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s opening remarks at the 5th Conference of the Belarusian Diaspora
On May 1, the 5th Conference of the Belarusian Diaspora started in Warsaw. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered opening remarks, emphasizing that over these years, Belarusians have both preserved their unity and learned to respond to new challenges together. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear Belarusians, friends, like-minded people, international guests and allies, Welcome to the Conference of the Belarusian […]
May 01, 2026
April 2026: Highlights from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office
Throughout April, the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continued its work on supporting political prisoners and addressing issues that directly affect Belarusians abroad. This month featured high-level meetings, public engagements, and outreach to Belarusian communities and initiatives. Below are the key developments from the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Berlin to participate in a […]
April 30, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met Estonian Parliament Speaker Lauri Hussar
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu), Lauri Hussar, on the sidelines of the Three Seas Summit. The parties discussed sanctions, support for Belarusian youth, and prospects for further cooperation. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I called for clearly distinguishing between Belarusians and Russians in legislative initiatives — including in matters of property restrictions […]
April 30, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met Romanian President Nicușor Dan
On the sidelines of the Three Seas Summit in Croatia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan. The parties discussed: deepening cooperation between Romania and the democratic forces of Belarus; the possibility of Romania joining the International Humanitarian Fund; cooperation with non-governmental organizations; Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s possible visit to Bucharest. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We […]
April 29, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met Polish President Karol Nawrocki
During the Three Seas Summit in Dubrovnik, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki. They discussed the release of Andrzej Poczobut, recent developments, and further steps in cooperation between Belarus and Poland. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I was glad to meet with the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, on the sidelines of the Three […]
April 29, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda
During the Three Seas Summit in Croatia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda The sides discussed the release of political prisoners, the situation surrounding the European Humanities University, and support for Belarusians in Lithuania. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I was honored to meet with the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda. We discussed current […]
April 29, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski met with EHU Governing Board Chair Mantas Adomėnas
On April 27, the Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Lithuania, Dzianis Kuchynski, held a meeting in Vilnius with the Chair of the Governing Board of the European Humanities University (EHU), Mantas Adomėnas, who is also the Secretary General of the Community of Democracies. The meeting took place against the backdrop of a situation requiring […]
April 28, 2026
Why does the Coordination Council election matter for Belarusians? Pavel Tereshkovich’s perspective
In a few weeks, the election to the fourth convocation of the Coordination Council will take place. On this occasion, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Pavel Tereshkovich, turns to history to highlight the importance of this process. “In the spring of 1917, Belarus found itself in an extremely dramatic situation. The front line […]
April 28, 2026
Chornobyl disaster anniversary, meetings with the Belarusian community. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: April 20–26
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHORNOBYL TRAGEDY On April 26, the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians. She recalled her personal memories and highlighted the risks posed by the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant and the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus. On the same day, Belarusians in different countries commemorated Chornobyl […]
April 28, 2026
Meeting with Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania Olga Nikitchenko
The Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Lithuania, Dzianis Kuchynski, met with the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania, Olga Nikitchenko. The parties discussed current issues of cooperation and interaction between Ukraine and the democratic forces of Belarus. They addressed the recent meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius, as […]
April 28, 2026
Meeting between Blue / Yellow and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office
A meeting was held at Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius with the Founder of the Lithuanian charitable organization Blue/Yellow, Jonas Ohman. The Belarusian side was represented by the Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Lithuania, Dzianis Kuchynski, and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka. They briefed Mr. Ohman on the current state and […]
April 28, 2026
“A shared tragedy that unites us all”: Rally in Warsaw on the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster
On April 26, Belarusians gathered near the Copernicus Monument in Warsaw to honor the memory of the Chornobyl tragedy, its consequences for Belarus and the world, and the people whose lives it changed forever. More than 100 people took part. Speakers included Viachaslau Siuchyk, Father Viachaslau Barok, Pavel Latushka (United Transitional Cabinet), Franak Viacorka (Sviatlana […]
April 28, 2026
Chornobyl Way 2026 in Vilnius
Despite the weather, Belarusians in Vilnius came out to honor the memory of the Chornobyl tragedy. A run and a cycling event took place, followed by a rally. The Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Lithuania, Dzianis Kuchynski, and the Non-Staff Advisor on Environment to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Dzmitry Kuchuk, also joined the event. Events marking […]
April 27, 2026
Victims of the Chornobyl tragedy commemorated in Vilnius
Representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office joined the commemoration in Vilnius of the victims of the Chornobyl tragedy, including Director Dzianis Kuchynski, Parliamentary Cooperation Advisor Anatoli Liabedzka, and Non-Staff Environmental Advisor Dzmitry Kuchuk. Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, as well as representatives of environmental NGOs and activists, also took part. Together with diplomats, they participated in a […]
April 27, 2026
“Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Viasna Human Rights Center”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Viasna Human Rights Center. Thirty years ago, this organization emerged because someone had to stand on the side of people when the state abandoned that role. Unfortunately, over all these years, the state has never returned to the people’s side. But Viasna has never left it. […]
April 26, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address on the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster
On the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addresses Belarusians, recalling her personal memories and warning about the risks linked to the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant and the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus: “When Chornobyl happened, I was only three years old. I do not remember the explosion itself, but I […]
April 26, 2026
Overview of developments in education and science: March 2026
This overview presents the key developments in education and science in March 2026, divided into two sections — developments within Belarus and those beyond its borders. The overview was prepared by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Pavel Tereshkovich. DEVELOPMENTS IN BELARUS ONLINE PORTAL OF BELARUSIAN FAIRY TALES The National Academy of Sciences of […]
April 26, 2026
Political statement “For an Independent and Nuclear-Free Belarus”
The catastrophe at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant 40 years ago demonstrated what nuclear power becomes in the hands of an authoritarian regime. Chornobyl became a symbol of irresponsibility and betrayal, a symbol of the danger posed by the uncontrolled use of nuclear energy. Today, the Lukashenka regime continues the same irresponsible policy. Over 32 […]
April 25, 2026
Belarusians in Vilnius joined the environmental initiative “Mes Darom”
The environmental campaign “Mes Darom” took place in Vilnius. The Belarusian community joined it, as well as: Dzianis Kuchynski, Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Lithuania; Anatoli Liabedzka, Parliamentary Cooperation Advisor; Dzmitry Kuchuk, Non-Staff Environmental Advisor. “Mes Darom” is the Lithuanian part of the international movement “Let’s Do It World”, which unites millions of people […]
April 25, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended a concert by Irdorath
In Warsaw, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended a concert by Irdorath, a Belarusian band whose members used to be political prisoners. Before the performance, she spoke with the musicians about their journey, life after imprisonment, and what their work and creative process look like in exile today. The band presented Ms. Tsikhanouskaya with a book about Belarusian […]
April 25, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Lavon Volski’s exhibition in Warsaw
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the exhibition “The Forest Hears, the Field Sees” by renowned Belarusian musician and artist Lavon Volski, currently on display at the Free Belarus Museum in Warsaw. The exhibition features a series of twelve paintings, each inspired by a specific Belarusian proverb or saying. The project combines visual art with folk wisdom, offering […]
April 25, 2026
Addressing issues affecting Belarusians in Lithuania
On April 23–24, Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski held a series of political meetings, also attended by Dzianis Kuchynski and Anatoli Liabedzka of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office. The meetings took place with Lithuania’s Minister of the Interior, Vladislav Kondratovič; Speaker of the Seimas, Juozas Olekas; and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Audra Plepytė. The focus was on […]
April 23, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Belarusian NGOs in Białystok
On April 22, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Białystok-based representatives of Belarusian NGOs and initiatives in an introductory Q&A format. More than 40 representatives of cultural, media, educational, human rights, and civic initiatives took part in the discussion. The meeting focused on the current realities of Belarusian projects in the region and their most pressing challenges: […]
April 23, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Tutaka Foundation in Białystok
On April 22, during her visit to Białystok, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with representatives of the Tutaka Foundation and discussed their current projects. The meeting also addressed this year’s festival preparations: the program, partners, support, and cooperation with local authorities, as well as organizational changes — including the fact that the festival will be ticketed for […]
April 22, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended Viasna’s 30th anniversary and awarded the Cross of Freedom to Ales Bialiatski
On April 21, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in a ceremony in Warsaw dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Viasna Human Rights Center. She congratulated Viasna’s members on the anniversary, highlighted their key role in the Belarusian human rights community, and emphasized that Viasna has become a symbol of support for Belarusians facing persecution. She […]
April 22, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski met with Nordic Council President Ville Väyrynen in Vilnius
In Vilnius, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, held a meeting with the new President of the Nordic Council, Ville Väyrynen. The Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania, Ole Andersen Lindeman, also joined the discussions. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a conference marking the 35th anniversary of cooperation […]
April 22, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski met with Lithuania’s Vice Foreign Minister Audra Plepytė
On April 17, the Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius, Dzianis Kuchynski, held a meeting with Lithuania’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Audra Plepytė. They discussed support for Belarusians and coordination of efforts across key international tracks. Key topics discussed included: assistance to released political prisoners and migration-related issues, including legal stay and integration […]