Support for businesses and IT sector, sanctions on potash exports. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa
António Costa and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the operational environment for Belarusian businesses and representatives of the IT sector who have relocated to Portugal. They agreed to hold a meeting with representatives of these companies in autumn to discuss and improve the environment. The conversation mostly focused on potash fertilizers and their export to third countries. […]
May 17, 2023
Aid to Belarusian refugees, tribunal for Lukashenka, defending Belarus from Russian absorption. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of PACE
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe President Tiny Kox during the CoE Summit in Reykjavik. He invited Ms. Tsikhanouskaya to speak at the PACE plenary session in June, which will feature a presentation of the report on the situation of Belarusian refugees. The document estimates that 200 thousand to 500 […]
May 17, 2023
Results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s first day at the Reykjavik Council of Europe Summit
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the opening of the Council of Europe Summit held in Reykjavik. Her presence at the summit affirms that the Council of Europe recognizes Belarus’ democratic forces as legitimate representatives of the country. She held sideline discussions with the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, Head of the European Council, Charles […]
May 17, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikahnouskaya arrived in Reykjavik to attend the Council of Europe Summit on May 16-17
Although Belarus is not a member of the Council of Europe, the organization made an exception and invited Ms. Tsikhanouskaya as a special guest. The Summit may be the key Council of Europe meeting of the decade as the previous one was held in Warsaw in 2005. Heads or representatives of 46 states are expected […]
May 16, 2023
“I envision a Belarus where the principles upheld by the Council of Europe are not distant ideals but everyday realities”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the PACE Standing Committee meeting in Reykjavik, 2023
“President Kox, Madame Prime Minister, Madame Minister,
Dear Members of the Standing Committee, Dear friends, Today, I came to you with a very simple message from Belarusians: be the voice of those who can’t speak now. Last week, I had a call with a Belarusian woman. Her daughter and her son are both in Lukashenka’s […]
May 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikahnouskaya met with the Speaker of the Danish parliament and MPs for foreign affairs
Yesterday, May 15, Sviatlana Tsikahnouskaya paid a short visit to Denmark, where she met with Denmark’s parliamentary leadership and British MP and former prime minister Liz Truss. She also spoke at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and gave interviews to Danish and international media. During the meeting, Danish MPs and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed support for Belarus. […]
May 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke in Copenhagen on nuclear weapons in Belarus
Today Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, where she delivered an address as a keynote speaker on the situation in Belarus and the geopolitical risks of nuclear weapons deployment, as well as the situation with political prisoners. She called for being resolute in opposing the deployment of nuclear weapons and developing a strategy for […]
May 15, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “On this day exactly one year ago, Pavel “Volat” Suslau, commander of Kastus Kalinouski regiment, was killed”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “On this day exactly one year ago, Pavel “Volat” Suslau, commander of the Kastus Kalinouski regiment, was killed. It hurts to commemorate such dates but it is a date of remembrance. We must remember and honor our heroes. And Pavel Suslau is certainly a hero. I have seen the video filmed by Pavel's […]
May 15, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Council of Europe Summit Round table “A Democracy Fit for the Future”, 2023
“Dear Excellencies, Dear Members of Parliamentary Assembly Dear friends, students, I am deeply honored to give key remarks at this roundtable and I regret I can’t be there in person today. The fight for democracy needs its champions – those who dedicate their lives to it and their freedom at stake in its name. One […]
May 15, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the award ceremony of the Charlemagne Prize
Yesterday Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her associates in the female trio, Veranika Tsapkala and Tatsiana Khomich, who represented political prisoner Maryia Kalesnikava, took part in the award ceremony of the Charlemagne Prize. This year the Prize, awarded to the trio last year, was given to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the People of Ukraine. This is one of […]
May 15, 2023
Valery Kavaleuski: “I call on each of you to care for political prisoners not only on May 21 but every day”
The United Transitional Cabinet Deputy Head, Valery Kavaleuski, addressed the Belarusian people on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus: “One of my priorities in Washington is to communicate the situation in Belarus and mobilize international efforts to prevent Lukashenka from 'turning over the page' and normalizing what is happening […]
May 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Belarus is swept by mass layoffs. The only exception are the regime’s stooges”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “A man from Minsk wrote to me the other day: 'At my factory, people are forced to take a long time off, unpaid leaves, and are laid off for the sake of “partial power and resource saving” due to lack of financing'. You know, this story is not one of its kind. The […]
May 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: Support fundraising for political prisoners organized by Belarusian activists
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The Viasna Human Rights Center estimates the number of political prisoners in Belarus to be almost 1500 people. Since 2020, at least 728 people have been released after serving their politically motivated sentences. Thousands of Belarusians are still in facilities of restricted freedom. Many refuse to be recognized as political prisoners, reasonably fearing […]
May 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the 5th Our Future Forum in Warsaw, 2023
“Dear friends, Let me welcome the organisers and participants of The 5th Our Future Forum. I’m very privileged to speak to the most brilliant minds of the new generation – Europe’s hope for the future. I have no doubt that democracy will be the cornerstone of this future. Our Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski […]
May 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the 34th Heidelberg Symposium
“Dear friends, Thank you for the invitation to address the 34th Heidelberg Symposium. One of this year's topics is “What will be the legacy of our times?” It is not an easy question, for sure. In my opinion, the legacy of our times must be courage. Because, if there won't be courage, there will be probably […]
May 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Pavel Belavus’ sentence: “This is a sentence for all Belarusians who dream of a Belarus that values its identity”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, the “court” sentenced Pavel Belavus to 13 years of imprisonment. People who would not care much if Belarus lost its independence and merged into Russia convicted a man who puts Belarus before all else. Pavel Belavus has been working on projects promoting Belarusian culture and national identity for more than 10 years. […]
May 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will attend the award ceremony of the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen on May 13-14
This year’s Prize was awarded to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the People of Ukraine. Last year, it was awarded to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Veranika Tsapkala, and Maryia Kalesnikava. Yesterday, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya recorded a video address congratulating Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the People of Ukraine on receiving the Charlemagne Prize: “My heartfelt congratulations to President […]
May 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “After celebrations, we should make sure that another dictator or Russian protege does not emerge and Belarus remains independent”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “You know, over the past 28 years, many Belarusians have wondered: what if Lukashenka departs? And, of course, one immediately thinks of champagne and a nationwide celebration. But in reality, after the celebration, our country will face a difficult time. The entire nation will need to work hard to begin rebuilding everything that […]
May 10, 2023
“Israel has no illusions about the Lukashenka regime.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Israeli Ambassador
The Ambassador of Israel to Lithuania, Hadas Wittenberg Silverstein, visited the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya today to discuss the situation with political prisoners in Belarus, the threat of nuclear weapons stationing, Belarusian-Israeli cultural ties, and Israel's cooperation with democratic Belarus. The Ambassador spoke about Israel’s efforts in promoting Belarusian-Israeli culture, including book translations and more. […]
May 10, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated Volodymyr Zelenskyy on receiving the Charlemagne Prize 2023
Video address of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the link. Text of address: “Dear friends, Last year, I had the honor to accept the Charlemagne Prize on behalf of all Belarusians who want to live in peace and freedom. I am very happy that the Charlemagne Prize this year is being awarded to President Volodomyr Zelenskyy and the […]
May 10, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed to the international community to support the International Day of Solidarity with political prisoners and the people of Belarus on May 21
Video address of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the link. Text of address: “Dear friends, Join us in marking the International Day of Solidarity with political prisoners and the people of Belarus on May 21. I ask you to show your solidarity and help us to raise awareness. Awareness for those who, unlike us, wake up every […]
May 09, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: The regime turned “Never Again” into “We Will Do It Again”
On May 9, when Belarus celebrates the world’s victory over Nazism, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians in a video, condemning the regime’s involvement in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and calling for commemorating the heroes of World War II. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “In the history of mankind, May 9, 1945, is not only a day of remembrance. It […]
May 09, 2023
Volha Harbunova launched a campaign to support politically imprisoned Belarusian women
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the campaign launched by the United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Social Issues, Volha Harbunova, to share the stories of politically imprisoned women in Belarus. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya put up posters with the names of Halina Dzerbysh, Katsiaryna Andreyeva, and Marfa Rabkova. She also called Belarusians and foreigners to join the campaign: “I want […]
May 08, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the death of political prisoner Mikalai Klimovich
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Last year, political prisoner Mikalai Klimovich drew a comical picture of Lukashenka. He was arrested in December 2022 but released a few days later due to his severe heart-related disability as imprisonment could lead to health detriment. But despite his health condition, in February 2023, Judge Andrei Bychyla, at the suggestion of Prosecutor […]
May 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) public event: “Current threats to the future of Belarus and Europe” in Dublin, 2023
“Thank you, Ambassador Mary Wheelan, for your kind introduction. Dear excellencies, Dear friends, Thank you for inviting me to speak to you in these troubled times. First of all, I wish to thank Irish people for awarding me the Tipperary Peace Prize. This award means a lot to me and to my countrymen. Especially now, […]
May 05, 2023
Internships at City Council, support for local Belarusian diaspora, assistance to Belarusian musicians and writers. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Lord Mayor of Dublin
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Dublin City Hall today, where she met with Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy. During the meeting, they discussed: support for the Belarusian diaspora in Dublin. There are up to 500 Belarusians living in the city; possibility of allocating premises in Dublin for Belarusian initiatives; inviting Belarusian musicians to international music festivals in Dublin; […]
May 04, 2023
“We’ve obtained firm plans and a pledge of support”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar
At the meeting, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the PM for his support within the Council of Europe: the Contact Group on Belarus was initiated during the Irish presidency. The leaders discussed the latest sentences of Pratasevich and Putsila, as well as the critical situation with Viktar Babaryka and other political prisoners. They also discussed launching a […]
May 04, 2023
Lithuania’s working group on Belarusian migrants held its first meeting
Today, Lithuania’s working group on migration and public security held its first meeting. The group was established as agreed at a meeting between Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Lithuania's Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė. The working group includes representatives from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, ByPol, BYSOL, the Belarusian Human Rights House, as well […]
May 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Jerry Buttimer, Speaker of the Irish Senate
Today Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann (Speaker of the Irish Senate) Jerry Buttimer. The Belarusian leader spoke about the latest wave of repressions against political prisoners. For his part, the speaker expressed his willingness to take patronage over a political prisoner, as well as urge other senators to join the campaign. […]
May 04, 2023