Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the release of political prisoners convicted in the “student case”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, almost all the political prisoners convicted in the so-called “student case” were released, including my ex-representative Alana Gebremariam and teacher Volha Filatchankova. First and foremost, they now need to rehabilitate and continue their education. The Belarusian Students' Association is raising funds for the Smolich scholarship, which will be distributed among the released […]
November 30, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Romanian Prime Minister and spoke at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Bucharest
The Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciucă, greeted the Belarusian leader in his office on November 28. This was Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s first meeting with the head of the Romanian government. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya talked about the recent repressions in Belarus, conditions for political prisoners,, the situation of Maryia Kalesnikava, and the case of Ales Bialiatski. The […]
November 29, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the University of Bucharest, 2022
“Dear friends, Dear students, Dear fellow Belarusians, Dear professor Luciana Alexandra Ghica, I'm glad to see you today. I’m honored that so many students have come, and even a little nervous. When I speak to students, I always try to choose my words with much more care. In contrast to politicians, who are usually predictable, […]
November 28, 2022
Scholarships and internships for Belarusian students and assistance to civil society: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her working visit to Romania
Yesterday, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Bucharest on a working visit at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu. This is the first visit of the National Leader of Belarus to Romania. With the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed assistance to the Belarusian civil society. In particular, they agreed to renew the […]
November 28, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Romanian Parliament in Bucharest, 2022
“Ladies and gentlemen, Dear excellencies, friends, I'm glad to be here today and to address you on behalf of my fellow Belarusians. Especially at such a decisive moment in European history – I know we all feel a great responsibility for our nations, and for our future. Let me start by saying thank you for your […]
November 28, 2022
Results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Canada: support for volunteer fighters, rehabilitation for children of political prisoners, scholarships for Belarusian students on agenda
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya has concluded her first official visit to Canada. The National Leader of Belarus met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, Defense Minister Anita Anand, and Senate Speaker George J. Furey. She addressed MPs and spoke to experts and students. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also met with Ivonka Survila, President of the Rada […]
November 25, 2022
New Year gifts for children of political prisoners: fundraising by A Country to Live in Foundation
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The New Year is coming up. For our children, this holiday is a real miracle. And in challenging times, they wait for the cherished presents under the tree even more. That is why you and I as parents always try to make a holiday for our children. We want them to remember warmth […]
November 25, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya concluded her visit to Canada by having a working meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In 2020, the Trudeau government responded decisively to the events in Belarus by providing financial support to Belarusian human rights defenders and civil initiatives. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stressed the need for the G7 countries to develop a consolidated strategy […]
November 23, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians regarding shortages in stores
“Shortages. Many people only remember this word from their parents' stories of Soviet times when they had ration cards, had to stand in long lines to get at least some size of boots and only saw empty shelves in stores. It all seemed like the distant past. But we are now witnessing it coming back. […]
November 22, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Carleton University in Ottawa, 2022
“Dr. J. Paul Goode, Dean Brenda O’Neill, Thank you for the invitation. Many thanks to the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, and to the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. I feel a great responsibility speaking before students. And to be honest – I’m a little nervous. Being a politician […]
November 22, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is on a working visit to Canada: meeting with Poroshenko, equipment for volunteer fighters, proposals for US congressmen
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya continues her 5-day visit to Canada. Canada has been consistently supporting Belarus since 2020 in international organizations, as well as providing assistance to Belarusian civil society, including Belarusian journalists, human rights defenders, women's initiatives, and opinion polls. In the first days of the visit, she spoke at the plenary discussion of the Halifax […]
November 21, 2022
Scholarships for politically imprisoned students, new residence permits, and Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in Prague: results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Czechia
On November 16-17, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Prague at the invitation of the Czech Prime Minister to mark the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with Prime Minister Petr Fiala, President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil, Speaker of the lower house of Parliament Markéta Pekarová Adamová, and Belarusians living in Czechia. In addition, […]
November 18, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Memory of the Nation Awards in Prague, 2022
“Chairman Jan Dobrovský, Mr Mikuláš Kroupa, Excellencies, Friends, I would like to thank the Memory of the Nation project and the organizers of this ceremony. People who receive this award have shown with their lives that truth, freedom and pride are not just empty words. And such events make us remember everyone who, in […]
November 17, 2022
One hundred days of the United Transitional Cabinet
One hundred days following its establishment, the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus releases a report on its track record and upcoming plans concerning goals formulated in its early days. Why was the United Transitional Cabinet established? Given the unprecedented brutality of the regime against the Belarusian people and the emergence of a new threat to […]
November 17, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech “Belarus and its European Future” in Prague, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya выступила at the opening of the international conference “Russia’s hybrid war against the democratic world. A challenge for European remembrance policy” in Prague. “Prime Minister Fiala, President Nauseda, Dear excellencies, Dear friends, I am so proud to be here to commemorate the anniversary of the Velvet revolution and to speak on behalf of those brave […]
November 17, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Education in Belarus is becoming increasingly obsolete and sinking into crisis”
Unlike in most post-Soviet countries, the Soviet system of compulsory postgraduate work assignment has not been abolished in Belarus. Those graduates whose tuition fees are paid from the state budget are obliged to work for 2 or more years for a company assigned by the state. In many cases, they are assigned to work in […]
November 17, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to Belarusians: “Speak to your children, defend their right to a happy childhood”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today I heard that Belarusian prosecutors and police officers now hold lessons on patriotism not only for high school students but also for kids in kindergartens. As a mother, I could not contain my anger when I heard this. I immediately imagined my children forced to listen to the ideological slogans of the […]
November 16, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived today on a working visit to the Czechia
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Prague at the invitation of the Czech Prime Minister to celebrate the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Within her visit, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya is scheduled to meet with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, Speaker of the lower house of Parliament Markéta Pekarová Adamová and Belarusians of […]
November 16, 2022
The status of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is seen as President-elect. Her mission in this role is to ensure transition period and hold new election
Numerous reports from observers, polls, and electronic voting suggest Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya won the 2020 election. But she did not take office as the official election results were rigged, and thus her status is seen as President-elect. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s mission in this role is to ensure a transition period and hold a new election. Unable to […]
November 16, 2022
The regime denounced the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Lawyer Kristina Rikhter commented on the implications
Lawyer of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office Kristina Rikhter commented on the consequences of the denunciation. What is the Covenant? “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a treaty that contains a list of human rights. And the states that have signed the Covenant must respect them. The Optional Protocol is an additional document to […]
November 16, 2022
“Belarus is the only state in Europe that still executes people”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the 8th World Congress against the Death Penalty
“Dear friends, Today I speak on behalf of millions of Belarusians who in 2020 chose freedom, democracy, and human rights over oppression and tyranny. The dictator Lukashenka lost the election, and waged a war against his own people. Hundreds of thousands were forced into exile, jailed, tortured. Many got charged with terrorism, and may even […]
November 15, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged EU foreign ministers to simplify visa procedures for Belarusians
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has joined the meeting of EU foreign ministers at the invitation of High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. 20 out of 27 EU member states were represented at the meeting by ministers. Almost all of them took the floor to express their support for Belarus. In her address, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for: […]
November 14, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “It has been two years since Raman Bandarenka died”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “It has been two years since Raman Bandarenka died. He only went out into the yard of the house he lived in to ask strangers why they were cutting ribbons off the fence. He never made it back to his apartment that night. Raman's death has still not been investigated by official bodies […]
November 12, 2022
Day of Solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and Belarusian human rights defenders
On Human Rights Day, December 10, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, together with Belarusian human rights organizations, asks you to express solidarity with Belarusian human rights defenders, including Ales Bialiatski, founder of “Viasna” human rights center, 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and one of almost 1.400 political prisoners in Belarus. Since Lukashenka’s regime came to power in 1994, […]
November 11, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya handed Iceland a list of proposals for implementation during its presidency of the Council of Europe
This week Iceland assumed the presidency of the Council of Europe, and from January 1 Iceland will preside over the Nordic Council, which consists of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and itself. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paid a working visit to Reykjavik, where she met with Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Foreign Minister Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, the Speaker […]
November 11, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Women Leaders 2022 Reykjavik Global Forum award ceremoby
“Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends, I’m grateful to Women Political Leaders for this incredible honour. Thanks to the Government of Iceland and the Prime Minister for hosting this great event. And of course, congratulations to all Laureates! I must admit that I am very nervous even if it doesn't seem like it. Three years ago I […]
November 10, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Reykjavik Global Forum – Women Leaders 2022
“Dear Prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, President Silvana Koch-Mehrin, Chair Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir Excellencies, friends, First of all, let me congratulate Iceland on this great conference. You often say that you are a small country. But you have a big heart. And believe me, Belarusians feel your love and your solidarity. Though there are thousands of […]
November 09, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya wished Viktar Babaryka a Happy Birthday
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today is Viktar Babaryka's birthday. But, like thousands of Belarusians, he can't celebrate his birthday surrounded by his loved ones, and for the third time he has to celebrate it behind bars. Eduard Babaryka, held hostage by the regime only as revenge on his father for his desire to help Belarusians get out […]
November 09, 2022
The Council of Europe Contact Group on Relations with Belarus: present and future value for Belarusians
In March 2022, the Council of Europe decided to cease all contacts with the Belarus regime. Its resolution instructed the CoE bodies to deepen relations with the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society and cooperate on human rights, independent media, and youth policy. In September 2022, the decision was made to establish a Contact Group […]
November 09, 2022