Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag in Berlin, 2023
“Mr. Chairman Michael Roth, Dear members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Dear friends, First, I would like to thank you for supporting our fight for democracy on behalf of all Belarusians. It is a crucial time not just for the people of Belarus and Ukraine, but for all of Europe. And I am glad to […]
November 08, 2023
Solidarity campaigns and rehabilitation programs for Belarusian political prisoners: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Libereco leadership
The Belarusian leader visited the office of the Swiss-German NGO Libereco, where she met with Executive Director Marco Fieber and his team. Libereco actively supports Belarusian political prisoners. Thanks to their campaign, more than 300 MPs from 21 countries have become godparents to imprisoned Belarusians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Libereco for their support and emphasized the […]
November 08, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Everywhere you go, speak about Belarus”
The Belarusian leader took part in a rally of Belarusians near the Brandenburg Gate, which was also joined by representatives of the Razam organization, the Libereco NGO that supports political prisoners in Belarus, and the People’s Embassies of Belarus. During her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on Belarusians to be more active and engage with politicians […]
November 08, 2023
Kristina Rikhter took part in meeting of working group on migration issues in Poland
Today, another meeting of the working group at the Ministry of the Interior of Poland took place. The Belarusian side was represented by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Kristina Rikhter, and the Director of the Legal Aid Department at Belarusian Solidarity Center, Volha Dabravolskaya. The parties discussed the issues of legalizing the stay of […]
November 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Anna Lührmann discussed simplifying legalization of stay for Belarusians in Germany
During the meeting with the German Minister of State for Europe, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya raised the issues of assistance to the Belarusian civil society and independent media, as well as increasing support for Belarusian volunteer fighters in Ukraine, to whom Germany had previously provided 5 pickup trucks and a mobile hospital. Ms. Lührmann announced preparations to […]
November 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in meeting of Alliance of Groups “For a Democratic Belarus” in Berlin
The Belarusian leader spoke in Berlin at the first meeting of the Alliance of Groups “For a Democratic Belarus”. Such groups already exist in 22 countries around the world. Leaders of parliamentary groups from Austria, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Spain participated in the event. MPs from Ireland, […]
November 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the meeting of the groups “For democratic Belarus”, Berlin, 2023
“Dear Excellencies, colleagues, Friends of democratic Belarus, I’m so happy that finally we all gathered here in Berlin. We worked on this event for many months. And let me start with words of gratitude to our dear hosts, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung for making this happen. Huge thanks to Böll Foundation, FES and Friedrich Naumann Foundation […]
November 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received new Czech Ambassador in her Office
Aleš Opata will represent the interests of the Czech Republic in Lithuania and maintain ties with Belarus’ democratic forces. During the conversation, the Belarusian leader and Aleš Opata discussed issues related to the legalization of stay for Belarusians in Czechia, including issuing alien passports to Belarusian citizens who cannot return home. Such a passport has […]
November 06, 2023
Young girl Varia who helps volunteer fighters in Ukraine received foreigner’s passport in Czechia
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Do you remember the wonderful girl Varia? The little Belarusian girl spent two years saving money to buy a drone for herself, and then handed it over to the fighters of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment along with a touching letter. It seemed like the end of the story. But I called Varia our […]
November 06, 2023
Astrozhski Belarus-Ukraine Forum took place in Lviv: Legal expertise projects and Verkhovna Rada Representative for Belarus
On November 4-5, Lviv hosted the second Astrozski Belarus-Ukraine Forum, which discussed various formats of cooperation between the countries. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, as well as political experts represented Belarus. During the meeting, the Belarusian side joined Ukrainian politicians and MPs to seek solutions to the problems faced […]
November 06, 2023
Sweden appointed Envoy for Relations with Democratic Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström. The parties announced the appointment of the Envoy, whose responsibilities will include relations with Belarusians in exile, cooperation with the democratic forces, and strengthening international ties. The position was taken by Christina Johannesson, Sweden’s former Ambassador to Belarus. Sweden joined France, Estonia, Lithuania, and […]
November 06, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for joining Christmas campaign in support of political prisoners’ children
In anticipation of Christmas, A Country to Live in Foundation, in partnership with Dissidentby, Littowin LIONS CLUB, Politzek.me, the People’s Embassies of Belarus and the Association of Belarusians in America (ABA) announced “Christmas Post” for the children of political prisoners. The children of political prisoners can draw or write in a letter about a gift […]
November 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students spoke with OST volunteers about her work
Last week, Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Youth Policy and Students and President of the RADA Youth Council, Marharyta Vorykhava, held an online meeting with the volunteers of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office. Ms. Vorykhava spoke about her work and projects, and also answered the volunteers’ questions about youth policy and youth as a target audience. Read […]
November 03, 2023
Belarus-Estonia Conference in Tallinn: program and agenda
The first Belarus-Estonia Conference in Tallinn, scheduled for November 10, will have the following program. 8:30-9:30 Registration, coffee time Conference Day Moderator: Marko Koplimaa, Estonia’s first Special Representative for the Democratic Forces of Belarus. 9:30-10:30 Keynote speeches, discussion The keynote speeches will be followed by a discussion moderated by Mr. Jerzy Pomianowski, Executive Director of […]
November 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced working visit to Berlin
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Next week, my team and I will be visiting Berlin. We will launch the Alliance “For a Democratic Belarus”, which will unite dozens of parliamentary groups from various countries. We will come together to develop a common strategy vis-a-vis Belarus. We will discuss how to support Belarusians not only in exile but also […]
November 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dziady has been an important day for Belarusians since ancient times”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dziady has been an important day for Belarusians since ancient times. Today, Belarusians follow the tradition and visit the graves of their relatives and friends. We feel warmth but also pain in our hearts when we remember our loved ones who are no longer with us. But the people of Belarus are all […]
November 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya answered Belarusians’ questions in Current Time interview
Readers of Current Time Belarus asked Ms. Tsikhanouskaya about her ways of coping with stress. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I do not cope with it, I live with it. I am not in any kind of therapy, I am my own psychoanalyst and psychologist. Maybe I am just used to it somehow and live in stress all the […]
November 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke on progress with new Belarusian passport
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Almost every day Belarusians tell me about problems with passports and legalization of stay abroad. They message me hoping to find out how the launch of the new Belarusian passport project is progressing. So I decided to share the latest news. Right now we are working on producing the first passport samples. We […]
November 01, 2023
First Belarus-Estonia Conference will take place in Tallinn on November 10
On November 10, Tallinn will host the first Belarus-Estonia Conference. The event is organized by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Estonian Institute of Human Rights, and the European Endowment for Democracy. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya agreed to hold the conference during […]
October 31, 2023
“Will daddy wish me a Happy Birthday?” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke about her husband and children in interview
In an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Svaboda, the Belarusian leader spoke about Siarhei Tsikhanouski: “It has been 7 months now since I last heard from Siarhei. Lawyers cannot visit him in prison. Our children do not receive his letters. Ahniya draws pictures for her dad and asks about him every day. Her birthday is coming […]
October 30, 2023
United Transitional Cabinet launched One Contact Platform for Belarusians
Last week, the Social Policy Department of the United Transitional Cabinet launched an information and consultation platform named “One Contact”, where every Belarusian can receive free assistance. At the moment, the platform’s database includes 245 organizations that provide legal, medical, psychological, and financial assistance to Belarusians or are engaged in resolving various social issues. These […]
October 30, 2023
Digest of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Education and Science, October 2023
Please send information about everything related to education in Belarus to our secure anonymous chat bot: @eduOST_bot. Tell us the news from your educational institution or government department regarding repression and various forms of pressure from management, write to us about facts of corruption and new orders that seem unreasonable or irrational to you. We […]
October 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited exhibition by former political prisoner Asya Bulybenka
The art exhibition “Paznaka” (The Mark) is taking place at the Vilnius Belarusian Community and Culture Center, organized by former political prisoner Asya Bulybenka, one of the 12 people convicted in the “student case”. It marks the anniversary of her arrest during the March of Youth rally in Minsk in the fall of 2020. As […]
October 26, 2023
Latvian Saeima abstained from restricting Belarusian vehicles from entering Latvia
Last week, representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, Anatol Liabedzka and Vitaly Malchanau, met with the group “For a Democratic Belarus” in the Latvian Saeima (Parliament). As a result of the meeting, the Saeima Economic Policy Committee decided to abstain from banning vehicles with Belarusian license plates from entering the country. “During the meeting, we found […]
October 25, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office will finalize Concept of restitution for victims of regime with Belarusians’ feedback
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, in cooperation with Belarusian human rights organizations, NGOs, attorneys, and former lawyers, has developed a draft Concept of restitution for the victims of the regime. Over the past month, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's team has released a number of materials explaining the main provisions of the Concept. Follow the links to read more about: […]
October 25, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s opening speech at the Aleksanteri Conference, University of Helsinki, 2023
“Dear friends, distinguished professors, researchers, and guests of the Aleksanteri Conference, I am glad that the University of Helsinki is hosting this conference. Finland has passed the difficult path of decolonization. For decades, the term Finlandization was used to describe the situation in my country, Belarus. Belarus was keeping its nominal independence while remaining in […]
October 25, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to Lithuanians: “We need to strengthen cooperation and see what unites us”
The Belarusian leader took part in the workshop “Belarus and Belarusians, 2020+” at Vilnius University. She joined Belarusian and Lithuanian experts and politicians to discuss the situation in our country, as well as Belarus-Lithuania relations. “Lukashenka’s and Putin’s regime will do all possible to destroy the Belarusian-Lithuanian friendship. We should look for what unites us […]
October 24, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended Canada Embassy opening in Vilnius
On October 24, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the opening of the Embassy of Canada in Vilnius, where Jeanette Sautner will be the Ambassador. In recent years, Canada has actively supported Belarusian civil society, women's and media initiatives, as well as the Belarus Initiative at Chatham House. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has met twice with Canadian Prime Minister […]
October 24, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the “Belarus and Belarusians, 2020+” Workshop in Vilnius University, 2023
“Dear friends, Lithuanians and Belarusians, This workshop is a great occasion to discuss the place of Belarus in Europe and Lithuanian-Belarusian relations. I’d like to thank Ms. Tatsiana Chulitskaia and Professor Korosteleva, as well as Vilnius University for hosting it. And especial thanks to professor Šešelgytė from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science. […]
October 24, 2023