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
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will attend European Political Community Summit in Granada
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya wil participate in events of the European Political Community Summit in Granada. The Belarusian leader was invited to the summit by the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. Spain currently holds the presidency of the European Union. 47 heads of state and government have been invited to participate in the third meeting of […]
October 05, 2023
Volha Harbunova commented on regime’s response to Marathon of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
Lukashenka’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated a criminal case against the people who organized and participated in the Marathon of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in July. United Transitional Cabinet Representative on Social Policy Volha Harbunova highlighted: “The Solidarity Marathon attracted donations from 86 countries around the world. I was surprised by how international the donations […]
October 05, 2023
“Ukraine and the whole of Europe will never be safe if Belarus remains in Russian claws”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the international community at Warsaw Security Forum
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the Warsaw Security Forum and addressed the international community: “The world should stop thinking of Belarus as some part of Russia. We were part of Europe many centuries before Russia came to Belarus. Respecting and protecting our Belarusian European choice: this must be an integral part of Western policy towards Russia. […]
October 05, 2023
Digest of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Education and Science, September 2023
Please send information about everything related to education in Belarus to our secure anonymous chat bot: @eduOST_bot. Tell us the news from your educational institution or government department regarding repression and various forms of pressure from management, write to us about facts of corruption and new orders that seem unreasonable or irrational to you. We […]
October 05, 2023
“We are still who we are!” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on seniors’ rally in Belarus
Three years ago, Belarusian seniors held their first rally, the March of Wisdom. On this occasion, Belarusian seniors today organized a new rally and shared a video of it with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office and the media. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “You know, when seniors asked me to convey their words to the European Parliament, I was very […]
October 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed international community at Warsaw Security Forum, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear excellencies, distinguished speakers, Friends of democracy, and friends of freedom, For the whole last century, we, Belarusians, were among those who lived in the black shadow of Russia. Together with Lithuanians, Estonians, Ukrainians, Georgians and many other nations. Eventually, we all have stepped out of this shadow. We Belarusians definitely did it […]
October 04, 2023
“Let’s see Belarus as an opportunity, not only a problem”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at Warsaw Security Forum
The Warsaw Security Forum featured a panel discussion on Belarus for the first time in its history. It gathered more than 120 participants, including representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered her remarks: “Now, we are also fighting for our independence, and for the very survival of Belarus as a nation. And it […]
October 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The regime must be held accountable to the people of Belarus”
The Belarusian leader participated in an ISANS event on holding those responsible for crimes against Belarusians and Ukrainians accountable. The event was also attended by Ms. Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Legal Affairs Kristina Rikhter, Belarusian lawyers, and several foreign experts. During her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya noted: “Gathering data about human rights violations will stimulate our international […]
October 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Warsaw Security Forum event on Belarus, 2023
Dear Bartek, thank you for your kind introduction! And congratulations on the successful forum this year. Perhaps, it’s the first time in the history of the Warsaw Security Forum when we have a separate panel discussion on Belarus. And I am proud to have such distinguished speakers as ambassador Carpenter, Mr. Doughty, and the representative […]
October 04, 2023
Anatoli Liabedzka met with chairman of Lithuanian Seimas delegation to PACE
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, met with the Chairman of the Lithuanian Seimas delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Emanuelis Zingeris. “With Mr. Emanuelis Zingeris, we discussed the current PACE session. The meeting of the Political Committee of the Assembly will feature a […]
October 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the ISANS Side Event on bringing to justice those responsible for crimes against Belarusians and Ukrainians, 2023
Good Afternoon, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I’d like to congratulate ISANS on having this critical and timely event. You have gathered a fantastic group of Belarusian experts who work hard to restore justice in Belarus, including my advisor Kristina Rikhter, Victoria Fedorova from the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture, brilliant […]
October 03, 2023
OSCE established a Friends of Belarus group. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya talked about her expectations
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, which is held annually in Warsaw and brings together diplomats, government officials, and representatives of civil society from the 57 OSCE member states. It is the largest forum in Europe on issues of democracy and human rights. Together with representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel […]
October 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the “Promoting Accountability in Belarus: The Role of the OSCE and the International Community” OCSE event, 2023
Good Afternoon, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, First, let me thank all of your countries present in this room for being here and standing with Belarusians. I wish to thank personally Ambassador Mike Carpenter, but also delegations of the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, France, Denmark, and Estonia for co-hosting this discussion. I understand […]
October 03, 2023
Concept of restitution for victims of repression: release from prisons
At present, there are almost 1500 political prisoners in Belarus. However, this is only the information collected by the Viasna Human Rights Center. In fact, many more people have been convicted on political grounds. The priority of the draft Restitution Concept is to formulate a mechanism for the release of all those who are being […]
October 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at Seimas Conference on Belarusian-Lithuanian relations, 2023
Esteemed members of Seimas, Dear friends, Let me be frank with you: today, the Belarusian people have no greater friend than Lithuania. In the middle of the political and humanitarian catastrophe that our nation is going through, we need true friends and strong allies. We need you. Let me use this opportunity to thank you […]
October 03, 2023