Training session for young Belarusians was held by Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus
As part of the activities of the Contact Group on Belarus in the Council of Europe, a training session was held, which brought together more than 30 young activists and leaders from Belarus. They developed 7 projects covering different spheres of public life. These projects are an example of how young people can contribute to […]
October 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will deliver keynote address about situation in Belarus at UK Parliament
From October 16 to 18, the Belarusian leader is on a working visit to London, where she will deliver a Westminster Lecture at the Parliament. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya's keynote address will focus on the situation in Belarus and the priorities of democratic forces and the international community vis-a-vis Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will participate in the Belarus-UK […]
October 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, representatives of her Office, United Transitional Cabinet and Coordination Council wished Belarusian women a Happy Mother’s Day
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, along with representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, and the Coordination Council, recorded a joint Mother's Day video. Belarusians have probably never seen politicians so open and tender. In this touching video, they shared personal stories about their mothers, whose love has always been a source of strength and inspiration […]
October 14, 2023
Concept of restitution for victims of repression: restitution of property rights
The regime has been arresting, seizing, and auctioning off the assets of Belarusian individuals who took part in demonstrations, advocated for democratic changes, or simply consumed independent media. This includes properties such as land parcels, apartments, garages, phones, and other belongings, which have been confiscated as reparation for fines imposed on politically motivated charges. Hence, […]
October 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Mayor of Vilnius Valdas Benkunskas
Vilnius has welcomed tens of thousands of Belarusians, as well as hundreds of civil society organizations, private businesses, and independent media. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya expressed her gratitude to the city and its Mayor's Office for their support – allocating spaces for Belarusian organizations and sponsoring various concerts and cultural events. The Belarusian leader asked the Mayor to […]
October 13, 2023
“We will all definitely come back home”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on Aliaksandr Ivulin’s film about exiled Belarusians
Former political prisoner Aliaksandr Ivulin released a touching film about Belarusians who had to flee the country but are ready to return home at the first opportunity. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged Belarusians to watch it, saying that the stories and emotions of its heroes might resonate with many. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “It is not always obvious how […]
October 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held talks with Swedish Defense Commission
On October 12, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held negotiations with the Swedish Defense Commission in Vilnius. The Commission includes representatives of Sweden's government, Armed Forces, Parliament, as well as all of the country's political parties. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called on Sweden to take a principled stance in defending the independence and sovereignty of Belarus by not recognizing Lukashenka […]
October 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya supported Reporters Without Borders campaign for release of Maryna Zolatava
From September 6 to November 6, Reporters Without Borders is running a campaign “Postcards for Maryna” to mark the birthday of the chief editor of TUT.by, Maryna Zolatava. The project aims to support Maryna and all politically imprisoned journalists in Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the campaign and recorded a video in support of Maryna: “You […]
October 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya endorsed Belarusians Culture Map project
Kultmapka.me is an interactive map that shows Belarusian cultural sites and artifacts anywhere in the world. It was created in collaboration with the National Revival Representative Office of the United Transitional Cabinet. Thanks to this project, Belarusians can discover a piece of their homeland and history no matter the location. Currently, there are over 200 […]
October 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Ambassadors of Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Lithuania and Croatia
During her working visit to Denmark, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Ambassadors of Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Lithuania, and Croatia, as well as held a number of other, non-public meetings with diplomats. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the ambassadors discussed the situation with political prisoners, support for civil and cultural initiatives, as well as an international strategy vis-a-vis […]
October 10, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly Michał Szczerba
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the newly-elected President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Michał Szczerba, who was the NATO Special Rapporteur on Belarus in 2021. During the meeting, the national leader proposed to hold a debate focused solely on Belarus, appoint a special rapporteur, and send delegations of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Vilnius and Warsaw […]
October 10, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Danish Foreign Minister, Parliament Speaker and MPs
On October 10, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The politicians discussed the issues faced by Belarusians in Denmark, many of whom have become hostages of Lukashenka's recent decree on the cessation of consular activities abroad. The Belarusian leader proposed to consider expired passports as valid, […]
October 10, 2023
Office of Democratic Belarus was launched in the Council of Europe
It has been more than a year since the Council of Europe launched its Contact Group on Relations with Belarus, which includes representatives of democratic forces and civil society. From now on, the building of the Council of Europe also hosts an official Office of Democratic Belarus. This once again emphasizes the recognition of democratic […]
October 10, 2023
Concept of restitution for victims of repression: Commission for Restoration of Justice
The Restitution concept stipulates that the issues of compensation for repressed individuals will be reviewed by the Commission for the Restoration of Justice, which will be formed by a democratic Parliament. The Commission will receive and consider applications from victims of repression while also dealing with issues of truth-finding, restoring trust in state institutions, preventing […]
October 10, 2023
“Our country must abandon this type of punishment forever”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on death penalty
On October 10, World Day Against the Death Penalty is observed. The Belarusian leader released a statement regarding the prospects of this type of punishment in Belarus: “Belarus remains the only country in Europe where the death penalty is used as the exceptional measure of punishment. Every year, Lukashenka only extends the possible use of […]
October 10, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya dedicated NATO PA “Women for Peace and Security” Award to Belarusian women
The Belarusian leader received the NATO PA “Women for Peace and Security” Award and dedicated it to all Belarusian women: “Accepting this award today, I can’t help thinking of Israeli men and women, taken hostage by terrorists these days. I really hope that all the prisoners will return home safely. Our politically imprisoned women are […]
October 09, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s NATO PA Women for Peace and Security Award acceptance speech, 2023
Dear Chairman, Dear members of the Assembly, Dear friends, Thank you, dear Michal, for your kind words. And for your dedicated long-lasting support for democratic Belarus. Congratulations on your new role. NATO PA is lucky to have such a leader as you. I want to thank the honourable jury for giving me this important award, […]
October 09, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is visiting Denmark, where she will receive NATO PA “Women for Peace and Security” Award
The Belarusian leader met with Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at a reception for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Summit in Copenhagen. She spoke about the situation in Belarus and emphasized that Belarusians have not given up their hopes of Belarus as a democratic and European country. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also met with the Belarusian diaspora in […]
October 09, 2023
Representative in Czech Republic Kryścina Šyjanok spoke at opening of exhibition in honor of 100th anniversary of BNR Rada move to Prague
The exhibition, titled “In the Name of the Belarusian People…”, opened in the Slavonic Library in Prague. It showcased dozens of unique documents and memorial items related to the activities of the Rada (Council) of the Belarusian Democratic Republic and individual members of the Belarusian diaspora in the 1920s and 1930s. The opening was attended […]
October 08, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed support for people of Israel
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Nothing can justify terrorism, violence, hostage-taking, torture, or the killing of civilians. We are confident that the criminals who have unleashed war and encroached on key human values will be held to account. We express our condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and mourn the numerous victims among the […]
October 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Armenia
During the European Political Community Summit in Granada, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan. She expressed condolences regarding the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and conveyed words of support from the Belarusian people to the people of Armenia.
October 06, 2023
Summit in Granada: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister of Norway and Prime Minister of Bulgaria
With Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, the Belarusian leader discussed support for the repressed and political prisoners. She emphasized the need to support civil society and media and concert efforts in international organizations. With Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Nikolay Denkov, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya talked about Russia's attempts to absorb Belarus. They discussed the military […]
October 06, 2023
Concept of restitution for victims of repression: forms of compensation
International human rights law provides every victim with an inherent right to compensation. This compensation must be provided by the state to restore the dignity of the victim, reintegrate the victim into society, and help prevent further violations. Read more below about who will be eligible to receive different kinds of compensation. The draft Concept […]
October 06, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at Lublin Four Forum, 2023
Dear friends, Let me thank the Lithuanian Institute of History and Lithuanian MFA for organizing this conference in Lublin Four format. Our nations – Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Belarus – share a common heritage but also, I believe, a common future. But the most important – we share the same values. Of course, there were […]
October 06, 2023
Belarusian Democratic Forces Office will be launched in Prague this year
During the European Political Community Summit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. The Belarusian leader thanked Czechia for its help in opening the Belarusian Democratic Forces Office in Prague, as well as for granting scholarships to repressed Belarusian students. She emphasized the importance of distinguishing between Belarusians and the regime, as well […]
October 06, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with new Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Siliņa during European Political Community Summit
During the meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the importance of distinguishing the regime and Belarusians, as well as Belarusians and Russians. She stressed that the draft law restricting personal vehicles with Belarusian license plates from entering Latvia might complicate the lives of Belarusians who do not support Lukashenka's regime. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya […]
October 05, 2023
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at European Political Community Summit in Granada
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the European Political Community Summit in Granada. The Belarusian leader thanked Mr. Sánchez for the invitation. She also expressed appreciation for Spain’s efforts to support the families of political prisoners, as well as its decision not to suspend visa issuance in Minsk, with the country granting […]
October 05, 2023
Josep Borrell invited Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to speak on strategy vis-a-vis Belarus before foreign ministers of EU countries
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, held talks during the European Political Community Summit in Granada. They discussed the upcoming session of the EU-Belarus Consultative Group, which will take place in January in Brussels. The Belarusian leader called on Mr. Borrell to appoint a […]
October 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s meetings during Warsaw Security Forum
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’ held a series of meetings with international politicians at the Warsaw Security Forum. Here is a brief summary of what she discussed during the meetings. – Meeting with US Permanent Representative to the OSCE Michael Carpenter Mr. Carpenter announced the establishment of the OSCE group of Friends of Democratic Belarus, which includes representatives […]
October 05, 2023