Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to Belarusians: “What regime is proposing is sham election”
The Belarusian leader commented on the “elections” scheduled by the regime for 2024. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: «Dear Belarusians, Let us call things by their names. The so-called “Single voting day” announced by the regime is a sham. Just a ritual without meaning and justice. Under the guise of a democratic process, the dictator is attempting to […]
November 24, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed preparations for Strategic Dialogue with US Assistant Secretary of State
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had a telephone conversation with the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, James O’Brien. During the discussion, they talked about the situation in Belarus, the new Belarusian passport project, and the upcoming Strategic Dialogue with the United States. The Strategic Dialogue between democratic Belarus and the US is set to commence […]
November 24, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held call with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide
At the beginning of the conversation, the Belarusian leader expressed gratitude to the Norwegian government for supporting independent Belarusian media and human rights defenders. The parties then discussed the situation with political prisoners. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya informed the Minister that many prisoners are kept incommunicado, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Mikalai Statkevich, and Maryia Kalesnikava. She emphasized the […]
November 24, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya invites everyone to join fundraiser to support political prisoners’ children
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya invites everyone to join the “Christmas Post” annual campaign announced by 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). The children of political prisoners can write in a letter about the gift they would […]
November 23, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced working visits to Germany and Latvia
On November 25, the Belarusian leader will hold talks with the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Annalena Baerbock, and speak at the Greens Congress in Karlsruhe. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya will meet with members of the Bundestag and the leader of the group “For a Democratic Belarus”. Among other issues, they will discuss the implementation […]
November 23, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Schools should bear names of our Nobel laureates, not regime’s raiders”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Many schools and gymnasiums in Belarus are named after outstanding individuals – such as the enlightener Francysk Skaryna, writers Ivan Melezh and Tsishka Hartny, artist Ivan Akhremchik, and scientists Zhores Alferov and Vasil Kuprevich. However, a few days ago, I heard that a school in Minsk was named after Uladzimir Artsiomau, a former […]
November 22, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Every European politician should see this exhibition”
Today, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the opening of the “Belarusian Martyrology” exhibition in Vilnius. It features a series of portraits of Belarusian political prisoners by artist Xisha Aniolava, who presented the exhibition at the European Parliament in Strasbourg earlier this fall. The series includes more than 600 paintings. Unfortunately, the number of political prisoners in Belarus […]
November 21, 2023
Kristina Rikhter: “Changes to visa issuing process are a step to protect Polish minority from persecution in Belarus”
Kristina Rikhter, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, commented on the announced decision of the Polish Ministry of Interior to change the visa issuance procedures for Belarusians with Karta Polaka (Pole’s Card). Kristina Rikhter: “Currently, the Ministry’s draft resolution is in the public consultation stage and needs to be approved by the subject committees. At […]
November 20, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya supported Northern Lights Film Festival 2023
Northern Lights, a Belarusian film festival, marks 9 years since its launch. This year, its primary topic is distance. After all, Belarusians know exactly what it means to be far away from their home, loved ones, and friends. The festival program features a variety of Belarusian movies, like the documentary “Homeland“, nominated for the European […]
November 17, 2023
Marharyta Vorykhava to students: “You are the future of new Belarus”
Today, November 17, Belarus and the world celebrate Student Day. On this occasion, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Adviser on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, recorded a video addressing Belarusian students: “I have been fortunate to work with Belarusian youth – and I am confident that each of you deserves better. Better education, relevant knowledge, and outstanding […]
November 17, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Scholarship at MCI: details for Belarusians
In anticipation of Student Day, the Office’s team released a guide covering details of the Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Scholarship at Management Center Innsbruck, Austria. In October, one of the prestigious universities in Central Europe launched a program allowing Belarusian students to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in more than 10 majors. Over the past month, […]
November 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at Web Summit
At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Portugal, the Belarusian leader spoke about Belarus at one of the most influential tech conferences in Europe. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the role of technology in the Belarusian resistance. As examples, she cited the Voice platform and platforms for crowdfunding, as well as the Belarusian Hajun project, the […]
November 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held talks with Minister of Defense of Portugal
During the meeting with the Minister of National Defense of Portugal, Helena Carreiras, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the Russian military presence in Belarus and the situation with nuclear weapons. She called on Portugal to take a principled stance in defending Belarus’ independence. The parties discussed assistance to Belarusian volunteer fighters as part of the overall […]
November 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa
The meeting took place at the invitation of António Costa at his residence in Lisbon. The Belarusian leader thanked the Prime Minister for his help in organizing the meeting between Belarusian entrepreneurs and the Secretary of State of Portugal, Bernardo Ivo Cruz. The meeting became possible thanks to the agreement between Prime Minister Costa and […]
November 15, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The regime’s textbooks, written exactly as told by propagandists and security forces, do not tell our children the truth”
The Ministry of Education and the General Prosecutor’s Office in Minsk presented new school textbooks “The Genocide of the Belarusian People during the Great Patriotic War”. From now on, children of all grades will be taught a new version of history. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The genocide of the Belarusian people did not end in 1940s, it […]
November 15, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Committee on Foreign Affairs in Portuguese Parliament
The Belarusian leader addressed the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Portuguese Parliament. The parties agreed that the Committee will adopt a resolution in support of democratic Belarus and Belarusians in exile. In addition, they agreed to support the group of Friends of Belarus and discussed establishing contacts with Portuguese-speaking countries like Angola and Brazil. […]
November 14, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with leaders of Wikipedia and Alibaba.com during Web Summit in Lisbon
The Belarusian leader is visiting Lisbon, where the Web Summit opened yesterday. It is a major European technological conference attended by about 70 thousand people, including representatives of Belarusian businesses and startups. On the margins of the summit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the co-founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, and the President of Alibaba.com, Zhang Kuo. […]
November 14, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya launched group “For a Democratic Belarus” in Portuguese Parliament
From November 13 to 15, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is visiting Lisbon, where she will participate in the Web Summit. Today Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke in the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic (Parliament). During her speech, she launched the group of Friends of Belarus. Such groups already exist in 23 countries around the world – including a number […]
November 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Belarusian entrepreneurs met with Secretary of State of Portugal Bernardo Ivo Cruz
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Secretary of State of Portugal, Bernardo Ivo Cruz. The event, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal in Lisbon, also featured leaders of Belarusian startups working in Portugal and representative of the Imaguru Startup Hub, Anastasiya Khamiankova. During the meeting, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked Mr. Cruz for […]
November 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on results of Day of Solidarity with Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “On November 12, rallies and campaigns were held all around the world to mark the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. Together, we honored the memory of Raman Bandarenka and other outstanding people who died fighting for a free Belarus. We tied white-red-white ribbons, lit candles, and raised the eternal Belarusian flag. Wherever […]
November 13, 2023
Results of International Day of Solidarity with Belarus
On November 12, the world marked the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. November 12, 2020, was the day of the tragic death of Raman Bandarenka. Dozens of politicians and organizations around the world expressed support for the people of Belarus, while Belarusians organized solidarity rallies in Belarus and abroad. The EU High Representative for […]
November 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will participate in Web Summit in Lisbon
The Belarusian leader will give a speech at Web Summit in Lisbon, one of the largest and most influential global tech industry conferences. The event will gather around 70,000 participants – representatives of technological companies, big businesses, politicians, and journalists. During her visit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will meet with the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and […]
November 12, 2023
Fighting Autocrats Together: How Belarusians and Lithuanians Stand Hand in Hand for Freedom and Democracy
By Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Ingrida Šimonytė The article was previously published on Delfi. Despite attempts by the Lukashenka regime to set us against each other, we stand together in defense of freedom and democracy from authoritarian aggression. As Russia persists in its imperial war against Ukraine and its hybrid aggression against democracies worldwide, and as […]
November 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today marks three years since we lost Raman Bandarenka”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, November 12, marks three years since we lost Raman Bandarenka. Three years ago, his words – “I am heading out” – became a true motto for the Belarusian people. Raman himself for us became the symbol of our fight for freedom. When there is a crackdown in your country, any action, any […]
November 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Malaga
The leaders discussed the resolution on Belarus adopted by the German Bundestag this week. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for swift measures to implement its provisions. During the dialogue, the Belarusian leader urged the Chancellor to support an international investigation into the crimes committed by Lukashenka, particularly crimes against humanity and the forced displacement of Ukrainian children […]
November 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am grateful to Poland for the consistent and principled policy that many countries do not have”
The Belarusian leader congratulated Poland on its Independence Day. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the people of Poland for supporting Belarusians in the struggle for freedom, and Polish politicians for the consistent and principled policy toward Belarus. “I am confident that our joint efforts will help make Belarus a modern, independent, and democratic state. A state that […]
November 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Our goal is to build a country where social rights are guaranteed, not just declared”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the Congress of the Party of European Socialists in Malaga, Spain, where she addressed heads of state and government, political leaders, and activists from all over Europe. The leader emphasized the role of Belarusian social democrats in defending the independence of their country: “In this hall, we have representatives of […]
November 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Congress of the Party of European Socialists, 2023
“Dear Chairman Löfven, Dear Pedro Sánchez, Dear delegates of PES Congress, Friends of democracy, and friends of free Belarus, I would like to start today by congratulating the Belarusian Social Democrats with their 120-year anniversary. Belarusian social democrats were the main power behind Belarusian independence declared more than a century ago. Then, they were fighting […]
November 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya launched the first Belarus-Estonia Conference
Today in Tallinn, the major Belarus-Estonia Conference was launched. It was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia in cooperation with the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and became the first in its format. The event brought together about 250 participants, including representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, Belarusian activists and […]
November 10, 2023