Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed international community at Warsaw Security Forum, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear excellencies, distinguished speakers, Friends of democracy, and friends of freedom, For the whole last century, we, Belarusians, were among those who lived in the black shadow of Russia. Together with Lithuanians, Estonians, Ukrainians, Georgians and many other nations. Eventually, we all have stepped out of this shadow. We Belarusians definitely did it […]
October 04, 2023
“Let’s see Belarus as an opportunity, not only a problem”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at Warsaw Security Forum
The Warsaw Security Forum featured a panel discussion on Belarus for the first time in its history. It gathered more than 120 participants, including representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered her remarks: “Now, we are also fighting for our independence, and for the very survival of Belarus as a nation. And it […]
October 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The regime must be held accountable to the people of Belarus”
The Belarusian leader participated in an ISANS event on holding those responsible for crimes against Belarusians and Ukrainians accountable. The event was also attended by Ms. Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Legal Affairs Kristina Rikhter, Belarusian lawyers, and several foreign experts. During her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya noted: “Gathering data about human rights violations will stimulate our international […]
October 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Warsaw Security Forum event on Belarus, 2023
Dear Bartek, thank you for your kind introduction! And congratulations on the successful forum this year. Perhaps, it’s the first time in the history of the Warsaw Security Forum when we have a separate panel discussion on Belarus. And I am proud to have such distinguished speakers as ambassador Carpenter, Mr. Doughty, and the representative […]
October 04, 2023
Anatoli Liabedzka met with chairman of Lithuanian Seimas delegation to PACE
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, met with the Chairman of the Lithuanian Seimas delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Emanuelis Zingeris. “With Mr. Emanuelis Zingeris, we discussed the current PACE session. The meeting of the Political Committee of the Assembly will feature a […]
October 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the ISANS Side Event on bringing to justice those responsible for crimes against Belarusians and Ukrainians, 2023
Good Afternoon, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I’d like to congratulate ISANS on having this critical and timely event. You have gathered a fantastic group of Belarusian experts who work hard to restore justice in Belarus, including my advisor Kristina Rikhter, Victoria Fedorova from the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture, brilliant […]
October 03, 2023
OSCE established a Friends of Belarus group. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya talked about her expectations
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, which is held annually in Warsaw and brings together diplomats, government officials, and representatives of civil society from the 57 OSCE member states. It is the largest forum in Europe on issues of democracy and human rights. Together with representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel […]
October 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the “Promoting Accountability in Belarus: The Role of the OSCE and the International Community” OCSE event, 2023
Good Afternoon, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, First, let me thank all of your countries present in this room for being here and standing with Belarusians. I wish to thank personally Ambassador Mike Carpenter, but also delegations of the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, France, Denmark, and Estonia for co-hosting this discussion. I understand […]
October 03, 2023
Concept of restitution for victims of repression: release from prisons
At present, there are almost 1500 political prisoners in Belarus. However, this is only the information collected by the Viasna Human Rights Center. In fact, many more people have been convicted on political grounds. The priority of the draft Restitution Concept is to formulate a mechanism for the release of all those who are being […]
October 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at Seimas Conference on Belarusian-Lithuanian relations, 2023
Esteemed members of Seimas, Dear friends, Let me be frank with you: today, the Belarusian people have no greater friend than Lithuania. In the middle of the political and humanitarian catastrophe that our nation is going through, we need true friends and strong allies. We need you. Let me use this opportunity to thank you […]
October 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians inside Belarus: “Use this time for self-development and keep up the fighting spirit»
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians during her speech before the Coordination Council: “I can only imagine how difficult it must be to continue your activities against the backdrop of terror. How difficult it is to wake up every morning expecting a visit from GUBAZiK [security forces]. But I ask you not to give up. Use this […]
October 02, 2023
“Democratic forces must speak with unified voice”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Coordination Council
The Belarusian leader outlined 7 main priorities for the work of democratic forces in the near future: 1) Visualization of the new Belarus. We have already presented the draft Concept of Restitution for Repressed Individuals. In the coming weeks, we will discuss the Concept of the Transitional Period and hold public hearings in the Coordination […]
October 02, 2023
Coordination Council elections could become alternative to elections to Lukashenka’s fake parliament
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Coordination Council: “I expect that the Coordination Council will become a truly representative body of Belarusian civil society organizations and political parties. To achieve this, we need to hold elections for the next composition of the Coordination Council. Pavel Liber and the New Belarus platform are willing to develop all the […]
October 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech before Coordination Council, 2023
Dear members of the Coordination Council, the United Transitional Cabinet, Dear Belarusians! I came to you today to talk frankly about the current political situation and problems. And outline the priorities of the work of democratic forces for the near future. No one can deny that since 2020 the situation inside Belarus has worsened dramatically. […]
October 02, 2023
Roadmap for Democratization of Higher Education in Belarus for period of 50-100-500 days after transition
The roadmap was developed by a group of experts and practitioners in the field of higher education at the initiative of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and with the support of the United Transitional Cabinet. This document provides a step-by-step plan of the transition from an authoritarian higher education system to a democratic one. Its […]
October 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya – to Belarusians and Ukrainians: “We need to support each other in our struggles”
The Belarusian leader spoke at a rally of solidarity with Ukraine and Belarusian political prisoners in Wrocław, Poland. “Belarusians and Ukrainians have made their choice – we all want to be part of a great free Europe, not an aggressive and barbaric “Russian world”. The people of Poland have already gone this way – and […]
October 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at a rally of solidarity with Ukraine and Belarusian political prisoners in Wrocław, 2023
Dear friends! I am glad to welcome you to Wrocław – the city of free people. It was here that unprecedented protests began 55 years ago. They started with the fact that the authorities removed Adam Mickiewicz’s “Dziady” from the local theater repertoire because they considered this work to be anti-Soviet. Rallies against censorship turned […]
October 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusian teachers on Teacher’s Day
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusian teachers and congratulated them on Teacher's Day, celebrated in Belarus on the first Sunday of October: “Being a teacher is about devoting yourself to the cause without expecting anything in return. Some things children's parents say might hurt you. Some students may hold a grudge on you because of low grades. […]
October 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on Belarusians to support repressed teachers
On the eve of Teacher's Day in Belarus, the teams of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Hutka.help initiative shared a list of Belarusian teachers who need support. Hutka.help is not a foundation. Instead of raising funds, it shares the bank details of the repressed, thus giving people the opportunity to support them directly. Anton Dzeruchenka […]
September 30, 2023
Concept of restitution for victims of repression: rehabilitation
In the first days of the transition period, the priority will be to release political prisoners and those convicted on political grounds on criminal or administrative charges. The next step will be to address the issue of compensation for those aggrieved by the regime since July 20, 1994 – the day Lukashenka came to power. […]
September 29, 2023
Results of Anatoli Liabedzka’s working visit to Krakow
On September 25-27, Anatoli Liabiedzka, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, paid a working visit to Krakow. Anatoli Liabedzka met with the Chairman of the Foreign and European Union Affairs Committee of the Polish Senate, Bogdan Klich, who has been a longtime friend of democratic Belarus, and Belarusian politician and economist […]
September 28, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the American Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Event in Vilnius, 2023
Dear friends, Let me start with words of gratitude to the American Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania for inviting me to speak today. I’m impressed by your great effort to promote and advance women’s leadership. And, of course, let me thank Lithuania, which became a safe haven for me and thousands of Belarusians fleeing repression. […]
September 28, 2023
Aleś Alaсhnovič spoke on results of 3rd Belarusian Business Forum
Last week, the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad (ABBA) held the 3rd Belarusian Business Forum in Warsaw. More than 200 delegates from at least 13 countries participated, half of them were representatives of Belarusian business. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the opening of the forum. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms and one of the organizers […]
September 27, 2023
Marharyta Vorykhava met with students of College of Europe
Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, met with students of the College of Europe. Marharyta Vorykhava: “I discussed the situation in our country with students studying the Belarusian context. We also talked about the problems faced by the Belarusian youth and ways to solve them, as well as the different […]
September 27, 2023
Tatiana Shchyttsova took part in discussion “Academia in Exile”
Tatiana Shchyttsova, Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Education and Science, took part in the panel discussion “Academia in Exile”, which was dedicated to academic freedom in a democratic society and scientists in exile. Ms. Shchyttsova's speech was an opportunity to draw the attention of the international academic community to the situation in Belarus and the […]
September 27, 2023
Concept of restitution for victims of repression: principles and mechanisms
The time of democratic transition will be difficult for Belarus. To facilitate one of its aspects in advance, the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, together with human rights organizations, NGOs, lawyers, and former attorneys, has developed a draft Concept of restitution for victims of repression. The document will provide guidelines for restoring justice for those who […]
September 26, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and United Transitional Cabinet joined International Congress of Belarusian Studies
Representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the United Transitional Cabinet participated in the 11th International Congress of Belarusian Studies, which took place in Gdansk, Poland, on September 22-24. It was attended by Senior Political Advisor to Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, Alexander Dabravolski, Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, Advisor on Education and Science, […]
September 25, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on liquidation of Chornobyl Children NGO in Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “In recent years, almost 1.5 thousand non-commercial organizations have been liquidated in Belarus. The Chornobyl Children NGO became one of these organizations. For over 30 years, children from the areas most affected by radiation have been receiving help abroad, recuperating from the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster, learning new languages and cultures, and […]
September 25, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We live in a time when Belarus’ most worthy people are behind bars”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today is the birthday of our Nobel laureate, the head of the Viasna Human Rights Center, Ales Bialiatski. Dear Mr. Bialiatski, I remember your words: the people who value freedom the most are often deprived of it. And it saddens me greatly to see how these words have come to describe the Belarusian […]
September 25, 2023