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
Meeting with Ireland’s Foreign Minister: support for political prisoners, assistance to Belarusian initiatives, simplification of visa and migration procedures
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin in Dublin. She spoke about the recent politically motivated court sentences in Belarus and mass repressions, the work of the United Transitional Cabinet and democratic forces, and the importance of supporting Belarusian volunteers and fighters in Ukraine. During the […]
May 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech on the Polish Constitution Day at the Polish Embassy in Dublin, 2023
«Your excellency Mrs. ambassador Anna Sochańska, Ambassador Marius Gudynas, Your excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen. 232 years ago the first constitution in Europe was adopted — the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. It promoted democracy, introducing division of three branches of power. It guaranteed freedom of religion. It enhanced security and independence of the Commonwealth from foreign […]
May 03, 2023
Meetings with the President, Speaker of Parliament, speech before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues her visit to Ireland
As part of her visit to Ireland, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. He expressed full support for Belarusians and spoke about the Irish experience of fighting for identity and independence and restoring culture and identity, in which Ireland and Belarus have a lot in common. The leaders discussed the […]
May 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusian journalists on World Press Freedom Day
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear journalists, editors, and bloggers, on this World Press Freedom Day, I want to thank each and every one of you for the work that you do day and night, both in Belarus and beyond. You have not abandoned your work and continue to work for Belarusians in the country, covering their problems […]
May 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the sentence of Raman Pratasevich: “Have we remained true to our values?”
“This sentence is yet another test for all of us. Because our democratic movement is built on the following values: No one must be convicted on political grounds. No one must have to go through torture. No one's life must be for sale. So today, I ask every Belarusian: look at yourself, have you remained […]
May 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues her visit to Ireland
After receiving the Tipperary International Peace Award, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the ceremony organizers and guests to visit a memorial arch honoring Irish soldiers who fought in the First and Second World War. The Belarusian leader expressed a wish that similar memorial arches, honoring the heroes of 2020 and volunteer fighters who died defending the freedom […]
May 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tipperary Remembrance Arch
“Thank you for your invitation to share with you this special moment. Today, we pay tribute to brave men and women of Tipperary, who gave their lives for freedom around the world, in the two World Wars. We Belarusians also sacrificed many lives in both those wars, so this remembrance is something very close to […]
May 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Tipperary Peace Award, 2023
“Dear Mr. Martin Quinn, Honourable Secretary of Tipperary Peace Convention, Dear Mr. minister Seán Fleming, Dear Mr. Billy Kelleher, Dear Senator Mark Daly, Dear Mr. Guy Jones, Dear friends, It’s a great honor for me to receive the Tipperary Peace Award. To be among such prominent figures as Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Ban Ki-moon, Malala […]
May 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will visit Ireland and receive a prestigious award for promoting world peace
On May 2-4, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will be on a working visit to Ireland, where she will receive the Tipperary International Peace Award, which has been presented annually since 1983 to politicians and public figures who have made the greatest contribution to world peace and the promotion of human rights. During her visit, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya will […]
May 01, 2023
«Repressions and cultural resistance: How to help Belarusians fight cultural oppression?» A policy brief by Oxford Belarus Observatory
Oxford Belarus Observatory, in collaboration with the Research Centre of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (OST) and the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD) of the University of Warwick, is compiling a series of Policy Briefs based on the discussions taking place in our jointly convened Expert Webinar series. We invite you to read the […]
April 30, 2023
“Save yourself – stop hiding Babaryka”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Lukashenka’s accomplices
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Neither lawyers nor relatives of Viktar Babaryka have been able to see him and his condition. And this situation is not the only of its kind. Today, Lukashenka's accomplices do not realize the consequences of this pressure on political prisoners. They must understand, though, that in any change of situation, Lukashenka will only […]
April 28, 2023
Franak Viacorka: “We have already contacted representatives of diplomatic missions, European countries, the United States, and OSCE leadership”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Senior Advisor, Franak Viacorka, commented on the situation with Viktar Babaryka and the regime’s pressure on political prisoners. He also discussed the response from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, her Office, and the United Transitional Cabinet: “As soon as we received the reports, and later their confirmation, we started to act. The situation with Viktar Babaryka […]
April 27, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The situation of Viktar Babaryka and other political prisoners needs immediate international attention”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “On April 26, the jailed former presidential hopeful in Belarus, Viktar Babaryka, was transferred from a prison colony to a hospital and is undergoing surgery. Independent media reports indicate that he was taken to the hospital with traces of beatings. His lawyers and family members are denied information or contact with him. This […]
April 27, 2023
Support for media and volunteer fighters, visas for Belarusians, pressure on the regime. Results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s April 24-25 visit to Germany
“Yesterday, on April 25, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya finished her visit to Berlin, where she delivered the annual Berlin Freedom Speech at the Brandenburg Gate, held working meetings with Germany's Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, German Chancellor Advisor Jens Plötner, and US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann. In Berlin, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also commenced the work of the […]
April 27, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We demand a public demonstration of Viktar Babaryka’s condition”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Last night, reports came that Viktar Babaryka was taken to the hospital with signs of beating. We demand a public demonstration of his condition. We demand access for his lawyers and relatives. Any other actions will be interpreted as deliberate harm to his life and health.”
April 27, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya laid flowers at Vilnius’ Chornobyl Mother Memorial on the disaster anniversary
Today, together with diplomats from Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia, the US, Finland, Ireland, and the UK, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya laid flowers at the Chornobyl Mother Memorial in Vilnius. The gesture paid tribute to the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster on April 26. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We must remember Chornobyl. It is a painful memory but also […]
April 26, 2023
Kristina Rikhter: “For 27 years, human rights defenders in Belarus have been embodying the spirit of justice and freedom. They often risk their own freedom to ensure that fundamental human rights are observed and protected”
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Viasna Human Rights Center. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office and its Advisor on Legal Issues Kristina Rikhter congratulated the human rights defenders: “Today, April 26, the Viasna Human Rights Center celebrates its 27th birthday. This is an important moment for us to talk about the brave work […]
April 26, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the 2nd Belarusian Business Forum in Vilnius, 2023
“Dear guests, dear speakers, I would like to thank you all for coming to the 2nd Belarusian Business Forum in Vilnius. I am grateful to be here with you today. Congratulations to the organizers: Association of Belarusian Business Abroad and those who supported this event: Lithuanian Business Confederation, European Commission and USAID. It is already […]
April 26, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with German Minister of Finance Christian Lindner
During her visit to Germany, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the German Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner. She thanked him for supporting Belarus over the past three years. Mr. Lindner was the first German politician to protest outside the Belarusian embassy after August 9, 2020, and the diaspora is extremely grateful to him for that. They […]
April 26, 2023