September 18, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Timothy Snyder in Warsaw
At the invitation of Fundacja Demokracja, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended a public event with historian Timothy Snyder in Warsaw to deliver opening remarks. The conversation with Mr. Snyder was moderated by Polish journalist and founder of Krytyka Polityczna Sławomir Sierakowski, who supports Belarus’s democratic movement and personally witnessed the protests and repression in Minsk in 2020. […]
September 17, 2026
Audio guide in Belarusian and Grunwald commemorations: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Grunwald Battle Museum Director Szymon Drej agreed on cooperation
On September 15, as the Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Warsaw with historian Dr. Szymon Drej, who is the Director of the Museum of the Battle of Grunwald in Stębark. The meeting was also attended by Yury Meliashkevich, who initiated the campaign to install a white-red-white flag at […]
September 16, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski met with Latvian Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Advisor Ivars Liepnieks to discuss hybrid threats and support for Belarusians
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, visited Riga to meet with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’s Foreign Policy Advisor, Ivars Liepnieks. The meeting focused on regional security, countering provocations by the Lukashenka regime, and support for the Belarusian community in Latvia and the EU. In particular, the parties discussed: the regime’s hybrid attacks. Mr. Liepnieks and […]
September 16, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski spoke in Latvia on regional security and support for Belarusians
During his visit to Latvia, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, took part in a panel discussion titled “Between Solidarity and Caution: Perceptions of Belarus in Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian Societies”. The discussion focused on how Baltic societies perceive Belarus and Belarusians, the impact of the Lukashenka regime on regional security, and how European countries […]
September 16, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the release of 25 political prisoners
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “25 political prisoners have been released! I am happy for every person who has finally found themselves free today, just like I am happy for their families and loved ones who have been waiting for this day. We also see how difficult negotiations on such releases are. Every release requires tremendous effort, and […]
September 15, 2026
Belarusian Military Glory Day, 2nd European Conference for Freedom and Democracy. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: September 7–13
ADDRESS ON BELARUSIAN MILITARY GLORY DAY On September 8, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on the occasion of the Day of Belarusian Military Glory, which marked the anniversary of the Battle of Orsha. She stressed that Belarus must continue to think about its security, its military, and its right to defend itself: “I know that many […]
September 14, 2026
Two more countries to join the International Humanitarian Fund
Two more countries have pledged to join the International Humanitarian Fund. They will contribute around €200,000 to support Belarusians affected by repression. Once all procedures are completed, 15 countries will be participating in the IHF. The Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius, Dzianis Kuchynski, has discussed the current situation with the Secretary General of […]
September 14, 2026
Franak Viacorka’s visit to Prague: Ukraine, regional security, and Belarus–Czechia relations
On September 8–9, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, visited the Czech Republic to take part in the Conference on Czech Eastern Policy, where he spoke at a panel discussion on Ukraine’s recovery alongside Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, and representatives of the Czech Republic and Estonia. His key message was that […]
September 12, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski met with Lithuanian President’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Donatas Augulis and Seimas Deputy Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen
On September 9–10, the Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius, Dzianis Kuchynski, met with the Foreign Affairs Advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Donatas Augulis, and the Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen. Both meetings took place at Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius. The parties discussed: Bus connections with Belarus. Restrictions modeled on […]
September 12, 2026
Dzianis Kuchynski met with Freedom House Vilnius Director Vytis Jurkonis
The Director of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Lithuania, Dzianis Kuchynski, and the Office’s Legal Team met with the Director of Freedom House Vilnius, Vytis Jurkonis. Freedom House is a human rights organization that supports Belarusian activists and human rights defenders, assists victims of repression, and monitors the human rights situation in Belarus. Mr. Kuchynski thanked […]
September 11, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the Free Belarus Museum
Today, September 10, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the Free Belarus Museum, where she explored exhibitions by contemporary Belarusian artists. She viewed two exhibitions. “The First Undemocratic Ones” — an exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of the 2001 presidential election. The exhibition offers a look at history through street campaign materials, items from the Zubr Youth Movement, […]
September 11, 2026
“Addressing Culture as a Foundation for the Democratization of Belarus”: New PACE report under preparation
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Warsaw with the Second Vice-Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education, and Media, Agnieszka Pomaska, and the Head of the Committee Secretariat, Tatiana Termacic. The meeting took place as part of the preparation of the PACE report “Addressing Culture as a Foundation for the Democratization of Belarus”. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya […]
September 10, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the sentence against Dzmitry Layeuski
Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya: “Yesterday, the regime crossed yet another line: Dzmitry Layeuski was sentenced to three years in prison. Three years in prison for comments to independent media made five years ago. Dzmitry is an incredibly courageous person and a professional lawyer. Back in 2011–2012, he defended Ales Bialiatski — and even then, the security forces […]
September 10, 2026
Diplomatic briefing held in Tallinn on Russia’s militarization of Belarusian youth
On September 9, the Representation of the Democratic Forces of Belarus in Estonia held a briefing titled “Russia’s Influence on Belarusian Youth” for representatives of the diplomatic corps, ministries, and state institutions of Estonia. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy, Marharyta Vorykhava, presented data on how Russia, assisted by the Lukashenka regime, is building a […]
September 10, 2026
Meeting with Juozas Olekas, briefings for embassies, charity campaign for Belarusian children. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: August 31 – September 6
MEETING WITH LITHUANIAN SEIMAS SPEAKER JUOZAS OLEKAS On September 3, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, Juozas Olekas, officially received Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius. Members of the “For a Democratic Belarus” Parliamentary Group and representatives of most political parties also took part in the meeting. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was accompanied by her Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka; […]
September 10, 2026
Leanid Marozau spoke at the Quebec Rule of Law Summit
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, spoke in Montreal at the Quebec Rule of Law Summit, dedicated to the protection of democratic institutions and contemporary challenges facing the rule of law. At the invitation of the Bar of Quebec (Barreau du Québec), Mr. Marozau was one of the keynote speakers at the session […]
September 08, 2026
Two-week wellness program for former political prisoners, volunteer fighters, and their families in Italy
A two-week wellness program for former political prisoners, volunteer fighters, and their families has begun in Italy, bringing together 26 people from Belarus and Ukraine. They have been offered a special program focused on rest and recovery: days by the sea, walks and excursions around Florence, workshops, and a warm introduction to the picturesque region […]
September 08, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on Andrzej Poczobut’s return to Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Andrzej Poczobut has returned to Belarus. I think everyone who knows his story understands how much courage lies behind this decision. Sometimes, even under a dictatorship, a person can carve out a small space of freedom for themselves — through their own resilience and international support. I am delighted that Andrzej is now […]
September 08, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address on the Day of Belarusian Military Glory
Dear Belarusians, For many years, we were told that Belarusian history began barely a century ago. Supposedly, there was nothing before the Soviet Union or the Russian Empire. But that is not true. On September 8, 1514, near Orsha, the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland, commanded by Konstanty […]
September 06, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined Poland’s National Reading, attended by President Karol Nawrocki
On September 5, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the finale of Poland’s National Reading alongside the Belarusian diaspora in Warsaw. The event took place near the Adam Mickiewicz Monument. This year, the work selected for the reading was “Dziady” — a work about nations who fought for freedom and the right to be themselves. The event was […]
September 04, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a briefing for Latin American and European diplomats
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a briefing for diplomats from Latin American and European countries with the support of the Ambassador of Spain in Poland, Victoria Ortega Gutiérrez. The meeting was attended by the ambassadors of Brazil, Chile, Panama, Portugal, and Spain. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called on the diplomats to support Belarus on the international stage, including by […]
September 03, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Lithuanian Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas and other MPs
On September 3, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, Juozas Olekas, officially received Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius. Members of the “For a Democratic Belarus” Parliamentary Group and representatives of most political parties also took part in the meeting. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was accompanied by her Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka; Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski; and Advisor on […]
September 03, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Belarusian teachers and education administrators in Vilnius
To mark the beginning of the school year, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited a Belarusian educational institution in Vilnius to speak with the team that continues to educate Belarusian children in exile. The meeting focused on the current challenges facing educators, from Lithuanian language proficiency requirements to finding support and engaging with foreign embassies. The school’s leadership […]
September 03, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the EU to maintain pressure until systemic changes in Belarus
On September 2, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a briefing in Vilnius for ambassadors and diplomats from 17 European Union countries. The meeting was organized by the Embassy of Ireland. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya presented the outcomes of the New Belarus Conference and spoke about the efforts to secure the release of political prisoners and cooperation with Ukraine. She […]
September 03, 2026
Pavel Tereshkovich’s comment on the regime’s attack on private tutors
Ahead of the start of the new school year, the Lukashenka regime’s Minister of Education, Andrei Ivanets, gave an interview to Onliner. Among other things, he shared his view of tutors: “I simply cannot stand them at all. Every person has their own potential, including intellectual potential. What does a tutor do? In a short […]
September 02, 2026
Political prisoners’ freedom starts with their names being known
The release of political prisoners is a priority for the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. We work every day with international partners, diplomats, and human rights organizations to secure freedom for everyone who has been deprived of it on political grounds. Today, human rights defenders are aware of thousands of people who have faced politically motivated […]
September 01, 2026
35 years since the restoration of Belarus’s independence. Weekly updates from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office: August 24–30
35 YEARS SINCE THE RESTORATION OF BELARUS’S INDEPENDENCE On August 25, Belarus marked 35 years since the restoration of its independence. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on this occasion: “Many generations of Belarusians dreamed of having their own state. They fought for it, were imprisoned, and went into exile. And our generation was the first to […]
September 01, 2026
August 2026: Highlights from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office
The key event of August was the New Belarus Conference in Warsaw. At the same time, work continued with international partners on legal and security issues faced by Belarusians, as well as support for cultural and civic initiatives. Below are the key developments of the month. The New Belarus Conference took place in Warsaw. Participants […]
September 01, 2026
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Knowledge Day address
On Knowledge Day, which marks the start of the new school year in Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addresses schoolchildren, students, teachers, and parents. She calls on young people to stay curious and find their own path, thanks teachers who, despite ideological pressure, continue to teach children to think, and thanks parents for supporting their children and […]