“The Sovereignty of Belarus and Transatlantic Security”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a side event on Belarus during the NATO Summit in Vilnius
“We must not be afraid to confront Russian interests in our region. In the end, it is Russia who chose the path of confrontation. We must not let Putin’s Russia deprive the Belarusian people of the possibility to choose the European way of development“, said the Belarusian leader. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also spoke about what Belarusians […]
July 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Portuguese Foreign Minister at her Office in Vilnius
The Belarusian leader thanked Minister João Cravinho for his participation in the side event during the NATO Summit and support for the Belarusian issue in international organizations. During the meeting, they discussed the situation with the placement of nuclear weapons and Wagner PMC mercenaries in Belarus, threats to Belarus’ independence, and the European Union's strategy […]
July 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at “The Sovereignty of Belarus and Transatlantic Security” side-event on Belarus during the NATO summit in Vilnius, 2023
“Dear Excellencies, Dear friends of Belarus, I am privileged to welcome you here today at this side event. We are gathering here amid a truly historic NATO Summit. This summit is, to some extent, a test for the Transatlantic community – a test of determination and unity. I wish the Transatlantic community stayed united in […]
July 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed a delegation of US Senators at her Office ahead of NATO Summit
The Belarusian leader’s Office was visited by the chairman of the Free Belarus Caucus in the US Senate, Jeanne Shaheen, as well as Dick Durbin, Thom Tillis, Pete Ricketts, Dan Sullivan, and Angus King. During the meeting, the parties discussed the need for decisive international action to secure the release of political prisoners and protect […]
July 10, 2023
“We are defending Belarusians’ rights beyond Belarus.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke on her visit to Italy
On July 5–7, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her team were on a working visit to Rome. During the visit, the Belarusian leader met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, MPs and Vice Speakers of Parliament, the leadership of Italy’s trade unions, and Belarusians living in Italy. The meetings emphasized visa issuance in Minsk, […]
July 10, 2023
Visas, Friends of Belarus group, support for volunteer fighters. Results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Italy
On July 5-7, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Rome, where she met with the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, MPs and Vice Presidents of Parliament chambers, trade unions, experts, and the media. The meetings focused on the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, the strategy for the release of political prisoners, sanctions and the isolation of […]
July 08, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI) in Rome, 2023
“Dear Daniele, Dear participants, Let me thank CeSPI for holding this discussion on Belarus. What the future of Belarus will be, it matters today not only to Belarusians, but for the whole of Europe. Unfortunately, it doesn’t depend only on Belarusians, either. The situation in our country is described as a “perfect storm”. We face […]
July 08, 2023
Poland introduced a simplified procedure for Belarusians to obtain travel documents
Kristina Rikhter, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, commented: “Since January 2022, the working group of democratic forces and the Polish Ministry of Interior have been working on simplifying the legalization of stay for Belarusians. Tangible results have been achieved as a result of our systematic work with Polish partners. From July 2023, Belarusians in […]
July 07, 2023
Second day of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Rome: Parliament hearings, meetings with foreign minister, politicians, party leaders
With the Foreign Minister, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed assistance to Belarusian volunteers in Ukraine, visa support for Belarusians, investigation of Lukashenka's crimes in international courts, and freezing of Italian and European assets owned by the regime’s henchmen. The minister emphasized the deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus and the need for an urgent response. Mr. Tajani […]
July 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with leadership and members of the Women In International Security (WIIS)
The meeting took place at the Lithuanian Embassy in Rome. WIIS is a non-governmental organization advocating for gender equality and helping to promote women’s leadership in international affairs and security. The organization conducts networking events and mentorship programs for women.
July 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Confederal Secretary of Italian Confederation of Trade Unions Daniela Fumarola
Daniela Fumarola expressed solidarity and support for the democratic movement, emphasizing that Belarus is a priority for their organization. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya shared information about the recent repression against leaders of Belarusian trade unions, as well as the ongoing persecution and pressure on workers. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for supporting Belarusian trade union initiatives, many of which […]
July 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as part of her visit to Rome
The meeting took place at Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of the Italian Prime Minister. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked Italy for supporting the repressed and issuing visas in Minsk. The parties discussed the strategy for achieving the release of political prisoners, defending Belarusian independence, and stepping up the isolation of the Lukashenka regime. The Prime Minister […]
July 07, 2023
Italian Parliament established the largest group For Democratic Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the launch of the group and thanked the MPs who joined it. She also noted that the Italian group is the largest group within the Alliance of groups For Democratic Belarus. Italy became the 21st country with such a group within its Parliament, with its group being interfactional and including 38 […]
July 06, 2023
Visas and scholarships for Belarusians, support for volunteer fighters: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy
Today Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Antonio Tajani. During the meeting, they discussed the stationing of nuclear weapons in Belarus and the response from the West, as well as the situation with political prisoners, many of whom are incommunicado. Here are the brief results of the […]
July 06, 2023
Speech at Senate hearing, briefing for diplomats from 40 countries. First day of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Rome
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her Office team arrived in Rome. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke at a hearing in the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, where a strategy on Belarus was discussed. The Belarusian leader urged the senators to speak in defense of Belarus' independence, support democratic forces in inter-parliamentary organizations, and take patronage over political […]
July 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s keynote remarks at thе Atlantic Council event on Belarus: “After Prigozhin, what’s next for Belarus?”, 2023
“Dear Ambassador John Herbst, Dear David, dear Hanna, dear Shelby, Dear friends of Belarus, I’d like to thank the Atlantic Council for your many years of support of the Belarusian democratic movement. Thank you for keeping Belarus high on the political agenda in Washington D.C. and worldwide. When all eyes are on Russia and Ukraine, it […]
July 05, 2023
Siarhei Tsikhanouski was shown on video
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “It fills my heart with relief to see my husband, Siarhei, alive and strong. Now that he has been shown let us see Viktar Babaryka, Maryia Kalesnikava, Maksim Znak, Ihar Losik, and everyone else held incommunicado. Lawyers must be granted access to all political prisoners”.
July 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya starts working visit to Italy
From March 5 to 7, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will be in Rome at the invitation of the Italian Parliament and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani. The Belarusian leader is scheduled to meet with the country's leaders and major political parties in Italy, as well as the Belarusian diaspora Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will speak at hearings […]
July 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Eduard Babaryka was convicted for being the son of his father
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, the so-called court in Belarus handed down another sentence to an innocent person. Eduard Babaryka was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment. He is the person who spent 3 years in pretrial detention – a record term for Belarus. Throughout this time, the regime simply could not come up with a reason […]
July 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at thе Hearing at Italian Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in Rome, 2023
“Dear Senator Terzi, Dear Guilio, Cari amici, care amiche, I feel like I am among friends today. Friends who care about freedom and democracy the same as I do. I am particularly glad to see here Senators Pier Ferdinando Casini, Giulio Terzi, Filipo Sensi. Your support and solidarity inspire Belarusians to continue fighting for our […]
July 05, 2023
“Resilient autocracies: what can we learn about their defeat?” A policy brief by Oxford Belarus Observatory
Oxford Belarus Observatory, in collaboration with the Research Centre of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (OST) and the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD) of the University of Warwick, is compiling a series of Policy Briefs based on the discussions taking place in our jointly convened Expert Webinar series. We invite you to read the […]
July 04, 2023
Digest of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Education and Science, June 2023
Please send information about everything related to education in Belarus to our secure and anonymous chatbot @eduOST_bot. Tell us the news from your educational institution or government department regarding repression and various forms of pressure from authorities, write to us about facts of corruption and new orders that seem unreasonable or irrational to you. We also […]
July 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The last time I heard from my husband was on March 9”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The last time I heard from my husband, Siarhei, was on March 9. I haven't heard anything about him ever since. Neither have I received any letters, nor has the lawyer passed any information. The families of Viktar Babaryka, Maryia Kalesnikava, Mikalai Statkevich, Pavel Seviarynets, Ihar Losik, Maxim Znak and many other people […]
July 03, 2023
NATO Summit will feature two side events on Belarus organized by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
On July 11-12, the NATO Summit will be held in Vilnius, involving leaders from 31 countries, as well as foreign and defense ministers of NATO member states. It will become the most prominent meeting at this level in the history of Lithuania. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was invited to participate in the NATO Public Forum, where she […]
July 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended premiere of play “Tikharі”
Yesterday in Vilnius, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the premiere of the theater production “Tikharі” based on a play by Sasha Filipenko, a contemporary Belarusian writer. The plot is based on the story of a Belarusian doctor who refused to provide treatment to a riot police officer in 2020 and is on trial for that 10 years […]
July 03, 2023
Belarus-EU Consultative Group, more support for Belarus, EU Special Representative for Belarus: results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Brussels
During the visit to Brussels from June 27 to 29, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of the European Council, the EU High Representative, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, as well as the Belarusian diaspora. Representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet, Valery Kavaleuski, Pavel Latushka, and Vladzimir Astapenka, also took part in the […]
June 30, 2023
Belarus-EU Consultative Group held its first meeting in Brussels involving EU High Commissioner Josep Borrell
The meeting was attended by Belarus’ National Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, her deputies in the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushka and Valery Kavaleuski, the Deputy Representative for Foreign Affairs at the Cabinet Vladzimir Astapenka, members of the Coordination Council and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, as well as representatives of the Belarusian civil society, independent media, human rights […]
June 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s opening remarks at the Consultative Group meeting in Brussels, 2023
“Dear High Commissioner Borrel, Dear colleagues and friends of Belarus, I am really honored to open the first meeting of the Belarus – EU Consultative Group. We have come a long way to reach this point. And finally we are launching a mechanism to work on the bilateral agenda between Belarus and the EU. I […]
June 29, 2023
Increasing support for Belarus: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
During yesterday's meeting with the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Tsikhanouskaya proposed that the European Union increase support for the repressed, human rights defenders, independent media, and civil society in Belarus. “We are not going to give up. We will continue our work to defend Belarus’ independence and strengthen society. The European Union is […]
June 29, 2023