Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, during her visit to Copenhagen. Pavel Barkouski, Representative for National Revival at the United Transitional Cabinet, also joined the meeting. The discussion centered around Belarus’ European future and preparations for democratic change. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that changes in Belarus may precede those in Russia, […]
September 01, 2025
Second Congress on Political Prisoners in Belarus #WithoutJustCause
As of August 27, 2025, according to human rights defenders, Belarus has 1,335 recognized political prisoners. The #WithoutJustCause Congress is a two-day gathering of NGOs, initiatives, political prisoners, human rights defenders, and activists. Two days, two cities, one goal — to come together on one platform, unite efforts, and coordinate work for the release and […]
August 29, 2025
Resumption of German humanitarian visa issuance, appeal to European leaders, responses to the regime’s actions. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: August 18–24
GERMANY RESUMED HUMANITARIAN VISA ISSUANCE FOR BELARUSIANS In July, Germany suspended the issuance of humanitarian visas. The democratic forces of Belarus and the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya immediately responded and contacted German partners at all levels to advocate for resumed issuance. This week, it was announced that new applications are accepted. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on […]
August 26, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address on the Day of Restoration of Belarus’ Independence
August 25 marks the Day of the Restoration of Belarus’ Independence. On this day in 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Belarus granted the Declaration of State Sovereignty, originally adopted on July 27, 1990, the force of constitutional law. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Belarusians dreamed of independence for centuries. Our ancestors rose up against oppression, defended their land […]
August 25, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address on Ukraine’s Independence Day
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Honorable President Zelenskyy, dear Ukrainians, For the fourth year now, the Ukrainian people are marking Independence Day under the harsh conditions of a full-scale war. You are forced to pay the highest price for your independence. But you are defending not only your land. You are defending the right of all people to […]
August 24, 2025
Germany resumed humanitarian visa issuance for Belarusians
Germany has officially resumed issuing humanitarian visas for Belarusians after a reported suspension. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau: “We welcome Germany’s decision to resume issuing humanitarian visas for Belarusians. The democratic forces of Belarus and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office immediately responded when the processing of applications was suspended. We worked with our German […]
August 23, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s meeting with Iranian President
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, Lukashenka met with the President of Iran. Propaganda presents this as ‘new horizons’ and ‘friendship of peoples’. Lukashenka openly declared that Belarus is ready to cooperate with Iran ‘on any issues’. But there is no clear understanding of the framework in which this cooperation will take place. The one thing that is […]
August 21, 2025
UN experts urged Belarus to end ill-treatment and torture of prisoners convicted of terrorism and extremism
UN experts have released a statement confirming that prisoners convicted of terrorism and extremism in Belarus are being held in conditions that endanger their health and lives – in complete isolation, without medical care, and with restricted contact with the outside world. These practices may amount to torture or inhuman treatment and violate the country’s […]
August 21, 2025
Leanid Marozau joined human rights defenders’ initiative at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
The Legal Initiative has submitted a petition to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, requesting the public recognition of documented cases of torture, ill-treatment, and discrimination against women in places of detention in Belarus. The petition was joined by known Belarusian human rights organizations, including the Viasna Human Rights Center, Belarusian […]
August 20, 2025
Advisor on Economic Reforms Aleś Alachnovič steps down from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office due to personal reasons
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms, Aleś Alachnovič, steps down from the Office due to personal reasons. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Aleś Alachnovič joined our team in 2020 and ensured that our work on economic issues was carried out at a professional level. He united more than 60 renowned economists from different countries, coordinated cooperation with think […]
August 19, 2025
Belarusians in exile are blackmailed with expired passports
Some Belarusians in exile have received letters at their registered addresses in Belarus, notifying them that their passports have been declared invalid and requiring them to appear at the Department of Citizenship and Migration to renew the document. Failure to comply, the letters warn, may result in a fine. As a reminder, in 2023, the […]
August 19, 2025
Removal of a Belarusian citizen from the Interpol database, implementation of the New Belarus Conference plans. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: August 11–17
FIRST CASE OF A BELARUSIAN REMOVED FROM THE INTERPOL DATABASE For several years, the Lukashenka regime has tried to use Interpol as a tool of political persecution. This week saw the first case of a Belarusian citizen removed from the Interpol database, thanks to the work of the Legal Team of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office. STATEMENT […]
August 19, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya sent letters to European leaders ahead of the Washington summit
On the eve of today’s summit in Washington, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump, and European leaders will meet, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya sent letters to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In her appeals, she outlined her position on […]
August 18, 2025
Statement by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on President Trump’s phone call with Aliaksandr Lukashenka
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I know that President Trump made this call for an important humanitarian mission – to free our people and stop the repression. It is an attempt to save the lives of innocent people and achieve systemic change in Belarus. And I am confident that President Trump has the influence and all the necessary […]
August 18, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the fifth anniversary of BYSOL
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Five years of BYSOL’s work are a testament to Belarusian solidarity. They are an example of how people can unite around mutual support and never leave each other in trouble. You help volunteer fighters, political prisoners and their families, care for those in exile, and support numerous initiatives that strengthen and develop our […]
August 14, 2025
Interpol removed a Belarusian citizen from its database for the first time thanks to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office
For several years, the Lukashenka regime has been trying to use Interpol as a tool for political persecution. People who took part in peaceful protests and supported democratic change have been targeted under fabricated charges. Minsk knows that Interpol will not add individuals to its wanted lists for politically motivated charges, so it tries to […]
August 13, 2025
New Belarus Conference 2025: Outcomes, resolutions, and common course
More than 420 participants, 36 diplomats, and around 50 journalists gathered at the New Belarus Conference in Warsaw on August 9–10, 2025, to review five years of struggle, discuss strategies for the future, and adopt common positions of the democratic forces. How did the Conference unfold? Day One Panel 1: Civic Pulse – Where We […]
August 13, 2025
“This week has shown that Belarusians remain together wherever we are”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “This week has shown that Belarusians remain together wherever we are. Thank you, my dear ones. All over the world you organized rallies, meetings, events, and concerts. You found ways to tell the world about Belarus, took to the streets of different cities with our flags, and showed your connection to one another. […]
August 12, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address on the birthday of Mikalai Statkevich
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, Mikalai Statkevich turns 69. The organizer of some of the first mass protest actions against the regime’s arbitrariness in the 1990s, leader of the Free Belarus European Coalition, outspoken exposer of election fraud, and a fighter for democracy, this man has dedicated his life to Belarus and its people. So how did […]
August 12, 2025
European Commissioner Marta Kos extended support to Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the fifth anniversary of the 2020 Belarus protests
The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, called Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siahei Tsikhanouski on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the peaceful protests in Belarus. She emphasized the EU’s unwavering support for the democratic forces of Belarus, spoke about joint initiatives, and expressed confidence that Belarus will return to the European family of free […]
August 12, 2025
International political support for Belarusians on the fifth anniversary of the 2020 protests
On August 9, Belarusians around the world marked 5 years since the peaceful protests against dictatorship. And on this day, Belarusians were not alone, receiving support from heads of state and leading global politicians, foreign ministries of multiple countries, and European institutions. Politicians and political bodies who supported Belarusians’ aspiration for democratic change include: 🇦🇺🇨🇦🇬🇧 […]
August 12, 2025
New Belarus Conference, fifth anniversary of the protests, solidarity events worldwide. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: August 4–10
NEW BELARUS CONFERENCE The New Belarus Conference 2025 took place in Warsaw on August 9–10, organized by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the United Transitional Cabinet. It brought together over 400 representatives of Belarusian civil society organizations and political bodies, politicians, diplomats, experts, activists, and journalists. The events emphasized the unity of democratic forces […]
August 11, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s closing remarks at the New Belarus Conference 2025
Dear friends, For two days, the representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet (UTC) spoke about their work, answered questions – sometimes not the most pleasant ones. But, following the vote, the Coordination Council decided to approve the work of the representatives. However, this is no reason to relax. Soon, we expect recommendations from the Coordination […]
August 11, 2025
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the Women’s Breakfast with Belarusian activists and politicians
On August 10, the Women’s Breakfast took place in Warsaw, with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joining it. The event for Belarusian women involved in social and political activities was organized by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic. For the third time, nearly fifty outstanding Belarusian women came […]
August 11, 2025
Resolutions of the democratic forces: What we affirm and what we strive for
Following two days of work at the New Belarus Conference, the democratic forces adopted a package of resolutions. They cover key issues regarding the country’s future – from national identity, European choice, and security to the release of political prisoners, ending repressions, and protecting human rights. The documents set out the overall course of the […]
August 11, 2025
Dzianis Kuchynski spoke at the Day of Solidarity with Belarus in Gdańsk
On August 9, events took place in Gdańsk for the Day of Solidarity with Belarus, organized by the Cities of Gdańsk and Sopot, the Pomeranian Voivodeship Local Government, the European Solidarity Centre, the Chatka Belarusian Cultural Association, the Association of Belarusians of Pomerania, the Belarusian community “Gdańsk 23.34”, and the Viasna Human Rights Center. Sviatlana […]
August 11, 2025
5 years of the Belarusian Revolution: Shaping the canon and the dynamics of emotions
Ahead of another anniversary since the start of the 2020–2021 protests, the Center for New Ideas and the “Yosts Pytannie” [Got a Question] initiative carried out a special study. This article examines what the Belarusian pro-democracy community now thinks about those events. For the fourth year in a row, sociological research was conducted on the […]
August 11, 2025
New Belarus Transition: Laws and reforms for the future
The democratic forces have presented the comprehensive New Belarus Transition Strategy and drafts of key laws that will form the foundation for transforming the country after the change of power. From the Constitution and judicial reform to a new model of local self-government and a green economy, this is a plan to build a free, […]
August 10, 2025
New Belarus Conference 2025: Day Two
Live stream continues from the second day of the key socio-political event of the year for Belarusians! Representatives of the democratic forces, civil society, the diaspora, as well as experts, journalists, and activists from all over the world continue their work in Warsaw. They are summing up the results of five years of struggle against […]
August 10, 2025