Regional security and information exchange: What Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed with Defense Ministers of Latvia and Estonia
At the Munich Security Conference, the Belarusian leader met with the Minister of Defense of Latvia, Andris Sprūds, and the Minister of Defense of Estonia, Hanno Pevkur. The politicians discussed the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus by Russia, Russian-Belarusian military exercises, as well as attempts by the Lukashenka regime to benefit from the war. […]
February 18, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with US Congress and Senate members during Munich Security Conference
During the Munich Security Conference, the Belarusian leader held meetings with former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, leader of the parliamentary minority and Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, co-chair of the Friends of Belarus caucus, Joe Wilson, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Senator and co-chair of the Friends of Belarus caucus in the Senate, […]
February 18, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I don’t even want to think that after Navalny, my husband can be next”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the “Safeguarding Democracy: How to Confront Information Manipulation” event co-organized by GLOBSEC during the Munich Security Conference. During her address, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya noted: The lives of thousands of Belarusians depend on the reaction of Western countries to the murder of Alexei Navalny. Here are the key messages from Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s speech: […]
February 17, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The news of Navalny’s death shocked me. I don’t even want to think that my husband can be the next one”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the “Safeguarding Democracy: How to Confront Information Manipulation” event co-organized by GLOBSEC during the Munich Security Conference: “Dear excellencies, dear friends. Let me thank the GLOBSEC for organizing this timely discussion. The news of Navalny’s death shocked me, and shocked all of us. He never stopped challenging the regime even from […]
February 17, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Yulia Navalnaya
The meeting took place today, after the reports of political prisoner Alexei Navalny’s death in prison. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in person with his wife Yulia and expressed sincere condolences. The meeting was held in a confidential format.
February 16, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dictators won’t stop until we stop them”
During the Munich Security Conference, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at a roundtable discussion on Belarus organized by ISANS. In her speech, the Belarusian leader raised several important issues related to Belarus, particularly emphasizing the dire situation of political prisoners in Belarus. She urged participants to take decisive action to isolate the dictators and emphasized that as […]
February 16, 2024
Tsikhanouskaya in Munich: “As we isolate dictators, we should not isolate the people”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the side event on Belarus during the Munich Security Conference, the topic of discussion was “Belarus and European Regional Security”: “Dear professor Rainer Lindner, Dear excellencies, Dear friends of free Belarus. There is no better place to discuss the Belarus situation than at the Munich Security Conference. Let me thank the […]
February 16, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on Alexei Navalny’s death
“We all saw reports of Alexei Navalny’s death in a Russian prison today. This death is further evidence that human life means nothing to dictators. The Putin regime, like the Lukashenka regime, seeks to maintain power by getting rid of opponents by any means necessary. In Belarus right now, dozens of political prisoners are kept […]
February 16, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at Munich Cyber Security Conference: “Dictators find ways to use technology to persecute opponents”
The Belarusian leader began her visit to Germany with a speech at the Munich Cyber Security Conference, which brings together more than 700 experts, politicians, and representatives of the technology sector. The conference is supported by Google, TikTok, Amazon, Lenovo, Meta, Airbus, and other corporations. During her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the role of […]
February 16, 2024
The U.N. Committee on Human Rights has demanded “urgent protection measures” on Siarhei Tsikhanouski
The UN has requested Minsk authorities to ensure the physical and moral well-being of Mr. Tsikhanouski and his access to qualified medical assistance, lawyers, and family while his case is under consideration by the Committee (Communication No. 4305/2023). “Incommunicado detention – with a risk of enforced disappearance – is indicative of a strategy to punish […]
February 15, 2024
“Not everything Russia lent to Belarus has to be repaid”. Aleś Alachnovič spoke on Belarus’ debt and ways to cut dependence on loans
In an exclusive commentary to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s team following the interview with the “Zhyttsio-Malina” YouTube channel, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms, Aleś Alachnovič, talks about Lukashenka’s debt and lenders as well as why Belarusians won’t need to fully repay the debt. “We owe Russia 2/3 of the total external state debt – that’s over […]
February 15, 2024
“We will not sit by and watch as the people in Belarus disappear behind a new Iron Curtain. These people belong to Europe”: joint op-ed by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Annalena Baerbock
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, wrote a joint op-ed for the German publication WELT. It focuses on the continuous repressions that thousands of people face inside the country every day, discusses the measures taken by the EU to protect Belarusians, and argues for a European future for Belarus […]
February 14, 2024
Tatiana Shchyttsova commented on regime’s recent reforms in education system in Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, comments on the regime’s new “initiatives” in higher education, which show its preference for Soviet legacy instead of genuine reforms and their intent to prevent young people from studying abroad. “Yesterday Lukashenka embarrassed himself, one could say in an exemplary and illustrative way – surprisingly on […]
February 14, 2024
Guide on support initiatives and organizations for Belarusians in Belarus and exile
According to various estimates, more than half a million people have left Belarus after 2020. Many who remain in the country face the daily risk of being detained and persecuted for a like or repost on social media. If you have faced repression and feel the need to leave the country, know that you are […]
February 14, 2024
Non-recognition of regime’s election and situation with political prisoners: What Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed with new US Ambassador to Lithuania
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya hosted the new US Ambassador to Lithuania, Kara McDonald, at her Office in Vilnius. During the conversation, the Belarusian leader emphasized the critical situation with political prisoners and the possible steps to achieve their release. The parties also discussed steps to advance the Belarus–USA Strategic Dialogue and possible cooperation within the UN and […]
February 14, 2024
Marharyta Vorykhava: “Belarusian education has long been outdated. It prepares servants for regime, not professionals”
Today’s education system in Belarus needs changes and numerous reforms. But Lukashenka today yet again denied this. He asked, why look for something new when they can use Soviet achievements? The regime emphasized once again that the personal development of young Belarusians is not its concern. It only needs the universities to prepare personnel suitable […]
February 13, 2024
Errors in the design of the new Belarusian passport will be corrected
Images of a draft design for the new Belarusian passport, which incorrectly depicts the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, have appeared on the Internet. The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the United Transitional Cabinet have acknowledged the issue as a technical error and have committed to its correction. Valery Kavaleuski, the representative of the United Transitional Cabinet who […]
February 13, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dictator uses incommunicado detention to make people forget Belarusian heroes. We will never let this happen!”
On February 9, 2024, which marked exactly one year since politician Mikalai Statkevich was kept incommunicado in the regime’s prison, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the international campaign “Show Statkevich!” launched by the politician’s family and friends. Unfortunately, there are many other political prisoners in Belarus who also do not receive news from the outside and have […]
February 12, 2024
Munich Security Conference: Why is it important for Belarusians?
For the third year in a row, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will participate in the Munich Security Conference, which gathers leading politicians, experts, and civil society representatives in Germany to discuss key global security issues. During her visit, the leader will raise critically important issues concerning the current political and social situation in our country. She will […]
February 12, 2024
“There is not even an illusion of competition”. Franak Viacorka on regime’s sham election
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, explains in the video why the regime’s “single voting day” scheduled for February 25 is a sham election: “What the regime calls an election is a sideshow and manipulation. In most districts, pro-regime parties compete with pro-regime parties. The names of members of election commissions have not been disclosed. […]
February 12, 2024
Tatiana Shchyttsova: “We can start democratization of education system in Belarus now – with collective preparations”
Today’s school education system in Belarus faces numerous problems. Experts highlight isolation from modern trends, outdated teaching standards, and authoritarian management. At the initiative of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and with the participation of the United Transitional Cabinet, some of the best Belarusian experts in secondary education have developed a roadmap project to prepare for reforms […]
February 09, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined “Show Statkevich!” campaign
It has been exactly one year since Mikalai Statkevich’s relatives and loved ones received the last message from him. Since February 9, 2023, there have been no reports about his whereabouts: no messages from him have gotten outside of the prison, while letters and parcels from the outside have not reached him. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined […]
February 09, 2024
“This is a reminder for Belarusians: you are not alone in this fight”. Anatoli Liabedzka on European Parliament urgent resolution on Belarus
Today, the European Parliament adopted an urgent resolution on Belarus against the backdrop of mass repression against former political prisoners and their relatives, as well as the announced trial in absentia against independent experts and analysts. In the video below, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, explains the significance of […]
February 08, 2024
“Godparents” of political prisoners: Who are they and what do they do?
In January, the number of symbolic godparents who joined the international Libereco and Viasna campaign WeStandBYou to support political prisoners reached 400. Humza Yousaf became the first head of the government to become a symbolic godparent as he took patronage over political prisoner Dzmitry Halavach. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s team explains below who the godparents are, how […]
February 08, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Only beneficiaries of Belarus’ isolation are Lukashenka and Putin”
The Belarusian leader commented on Lithuania’s State Security Department’s intention to close two more crossings at its border with Belarus: “We understand the concerns of Lithuania’s security services. However, closing border crossings for passengers is treating the symptoms, not the root of the problem. The closure will primarily affect Belarusians, the majority of whom stand […]
February 07, 2024
“Attempt by regime to rewrite history, manipulate values, and dictate social norms”. Marharyta Vorykhava commented on new school course in Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, addressed Belarusians regarding the introduction of a new patriotic course called “My Homeland” for students in grades 5-7. It will cover the ideology of the Belarusian state, as well as concepts such as “Motherland”, “Fatherland”, “state symbols”, and “state power”. “This initiative poses a threat […]
February 07, 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Regime’s current campaign cannot be called an election”
In an interview with DW Belarus, the Belarusian leader explained why the “single voting day” is nothing more than a simulation of an election: “The political framework in Belarus has been cleared. Leaders of political parties are in prisons, no free media can operate in the country, and all NGOs have been liquidated. The so-called […]
February 07, 2024
Legalization of stay in Poland: Where can Belarusians get help?
Several hundred thousand Belarusians live in Poland today. Each of them faces difficulties in the legalization of stay, from the inability to obtain an apostille to an expired Belarusian passport. The Polish Ministry of the Interior has established a working group to address these issues and improve Belarusians’ situation. It includes Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on […]
February 06, 2024
Stagnation, inflation, brain drain: Aleś Alachnovič on challenges for Belarusian economy in 2024
In an interview with Pozirk, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms and Vice President of ABBA, Aleś Alachnovič, shared his view on the major challenges facing the Belarusian economy in 2024. The advisor explained that the Belarusian economy is expected to grow by 1-2%, which is twice slower than the economies of Poland, Lithuania, and […]
February 06, 2024