“The EU’s approach towards Belarus, in the context of the wider neighbourhood: is there a strategy?” 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 […]
June 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya presented Honor and Dignity medals to families of Belarusian fighters who died in Ukraine
Yesterday, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited an exhibition in the Seimas of Lithuania commemorating Belarusians who fought and died in Ukraine. The ceremony of awarding the medals began with a moment of silence. The Belarusian leader presented the Honor and Dignity medals on behalf of the United Transitional Cabinet to the families of Belarusian heroes who died […]
June 10, 2023
Education in Belarus is in decay, graduates are increasingly leaving the country. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the regime’s recent initiatives in education
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Thanks to the regime’s officials, late spring was hell for school graduates. In an online chat with thousands of participants, many talked about leaving the country. People have been leaving for many years. Studying abroad is normal. What's abnormal is when it becomes a one-way trip. Previously, what stopped young Belarusians from going […]
June 09, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Belarusian women persist in their ongoing struggle that began in 2020”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, spoke at the Women Political Leaders Summit in Brussels. “Belarusian women persist in their ongoing struggle that began in 2020. It is inevitable that Belarusians defeat the dictatorial regime of Lukashenka. It is a matter of time and our solidarity that Ukraine wins over […]
June 08, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the Kakhovka dam explosion: “Russia must fully answer for its crimes in Ukraine”
“Russia's actions yesterday were yet another clear signal to the world of the threat it poses to all living beings. This deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure has led to the suffering of innocent individuals. Such actions by Russia will not be overlooked by the international community. Russia must fully answer for its crimes in Ukraine, […]
June 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with representatives of Kastus Kalinouski Battalion
“We can only free Belarus together. We need to communicate and unite. Everyone is working in their field. Today, the Kastus Kalinouski Battalion is fighting both for Ukraine and a free Belarus. We support them in their efforts, as well as everyone who continues the struggle. I expressed my gratitude to the volunteer fighters for […]
June 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Michael Carpenter to discuss protection for national identity and accountability for the regime
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Michael Carpenter during her visit to Vienna. She thanked the US Ambassador to the OSCE for the support of the Moscow Mechanism on Belarus and for joining the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners. The parties discussed possible steps for the release of political prisoners. They talked about the absence […]
June 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikahnouskaya invites Belarusians to the Jadnajsia event in Warsaw on June 14
“It is important that instead of losing touch and distancing from each other, we seek like-minded people and build new communities. We should find strive to be there for each other. Meet people and join them in creating projects, initiatives and sharing ideas. On June 14, you will have such an opportunity. We are organizing an […]
June 07, 2023
“The regime is attempting to intensify repression using war as a pretext”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at a UN event on human rights in Vienna
The event in Vienna commemorates the 30th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in 1993. In her address, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya noted that the insufficient global response to the rigged 2020 election in Belarus and its consequences has led to an escalation of repression, the hijacking of a plane, an orchestrated […]
June 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Women Political Leaders Summit in Brussels, 2023
“Dear President Metsola, Dear President Koch-Mehrin, Dear friends, Today, I am privileged to speak on behalf of Belarusian people, and primarily – on behalf of the Belarusian women. In times of war, it is obvious that more women in politics will mean more empathy, humanity and wisdom in our decisions. These are exactly the things […]
June 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The Belarusian issue must be raised in the UN Human Rights Council”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and briefed him on the issue of political prisoners, many of whom are in a critical situation. They discussed the situation of Belarusian refugees who face various restrictions while having no support from the Belarusian government. The Belarusian leader urged Türk […]
June 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the results of the UN Security Council vote: “This signifies the international community’s view of the Lukashenka regime – and it is not positive”
“Today the UN General Assembly said a decisive 'no' to the Lukashenka regime in the UN Security Council election. Only 38 countries cast their votes for it, while Slovenia received a convincing 153 votes. For the first time since the 2020 election triggered the crisis, countries globally had an opportunity to speak out about their […]
June 06, 2023
Digest of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Education and Science, May 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 […]
June 06, 2023
Austrian Foreign Minister offered to transfer evidence of the Lukashenka regime’s crimes to The Hague
Yesterday Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. She handed the minister the report by the National Anti-Crisis Management on the involvement of the Lukashenka regime and companies related to Belaruskali in the displacement of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories. The minister offered to refer the evidence to the International Criminal Court […]
June 06, 2023
Support for Belarusian companies and assistance in elaborating reforms. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayaya met with the President of Austria
Today Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her working visit to Austria, where she met with President Alexander Van der Bellen. Ms. Tsikhanouskayaya suggested that Austria act to ensure that local companies stop their cooperation with the regime and support Belarusian companies in exile. The parties discussed support for human rights defenders, assistance in training professionals, and the […]
June 05, 2023
Responsibility of Lukashenka’s Regime for Crimes Against Humanity and Migrant Crisis: Prospects for International Justice
On June 12, Vilnius will host an international conference “Responsibility of Lukashenka’s Regime for Crimes Against Humanity and Migrant Crisis: Prospects for International Justice,” organized by the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice in partnership with the Law and Democracy Center. In addition to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the conference will be attended by Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, […]
June 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dzmitry Sarokin was reported today to have suddenly died at a police station in Lida”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dzmitry Sarokin was reported today to have suddenly died at a police station in Lida. We do not yet know the reasons why Dmitry was in police custody, but this is not the first time that the regime's security bodies have detained him. The cause of death of Dzmitry, who was 37, remains […]
June 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Alina Koushyk took part in the Culture in Exile Solidarity Days in Krakow
On June 3-4, “Culture in Exile” events took place, aimed to promote support for and solidarity with Belarusian artists. The events were attended by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Alina Koushyk, the United Transition Cabinet Representative for National Revival, as well as Uladzimir Arlou, Uladzimir Niaklyaeu, Andrei Khadanovich, Tatsiana Niadbai, Hanna Yankuta, Maria Bonet, Viktar Siamashka, and others. […]
June 05, 2023
Belarusian culture in exile and prospects for a free Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at Culture in Exile Solidarity Days in Krakow, 2023
“Dear Mr. Ambassador Artur Michalski, Mr. Arkady Rzegocki, Vice-Director Joanna Wajda, Dear Ms. Director Dominika Kasprowicz, Dear Mr. Chairman Jan Piekło, Dear Belarusians, Dear Polish and Ukrainian friends! Let me begin my address by quoting the classic whose heritage we share. Adam Mickiewicz wrote these words in exile. In Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus almost everyone […]
June 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will participate in the Culture in Exile Solidarity Days in Krakow
On June 3-4, Krakow will host “Culture in Exile” events to promote support for and solidarity with Belarusian artists. The Solidarity Days will be held at the Villa Decius Institute for Culture which supports repressed Belarusian cultural figures. On June 4, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will deliver a speech on “Prospects for a Free Belarus”. Alina Koushyk, […]
June 02, 2023
Visas for Belarusians and rehabilitation for volunteer fighters: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Foreign Minister of Slovakia
During her visit to Bratislava, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Miroslav Wlachovský. They discussed the situation with political prisoners, accountability for the perpetrators of crimes, and the response to the illegal stationing of nuclear weapons. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the need to distinguish between the regime and the […]
June 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The regime’s policies do not only affect us. They target our children, too”
“Parents from Belarus complain about the education system in our country. Kindergartens, schools, and universities no longer belong to children; propaganda uses them for its own purposes. Ideologists try to get into children's heads, targeting even the youngest minds. And they do not strive to teach children anything important. What they want is to instill […]
June 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and partners will bring Belarusians together in Warsaw for Jadnajsia! civil society event
The events of 2020 and 2022 scattered Belarusians all over the world, and many miss a supportive environment. This is why it is important for Belarusians to maintain or create communities enabling them to support each other and work together for the good of Belarus. On June 14, an open event will be held in […]
May 31, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the high school exam scoring malfunction and the regime’s denial of it
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I know very well how much effort children put into successfully passing the school-leaving exams, which were reformed this year. It involves sleepless nights, textbooks and study materials every day, tutors, and additional classes at school. And now the graduates have encountered the very essence of the system – the National Institute for […]
May 30, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the GLOBSEC forum in Bratislava
In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the international community to vigorously defend democratic values and support Belarus and Ukraine. She noted that Ukraine is fighting both for its territory and values shared by all democratic countries. She noted that it is crucial to be prepared for a new window of opportunities once it opens. […]
May 30, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, current OSCE Chair
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Bujar Osmani discussed the crisis faced by the OSCE as a result of the disruptive behavior of the Lukashenka regime and Russia. Earlier, the official delegations of Minsk and Russia had blocked Estonia's chairmanship in the organization. They discussed the findings of the Moscow Mechanism report and further steps for its implementation, […]
May 30, 2023
GLOBSEC Forum and meeting with the President. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya begins her visit to Slovakia
On May 29-30, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will be in Bratislava to speak at the GLOBSEC Forum. The forum will also be attended by the President of France, the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, and other international leaders. At the […]
May 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the 3rd anniversary of Siarhei’s detention: “Belarusians are the reason I keep holding on”
“Over the three years that we have been apart, I visited so many countries that I couldn't even imagine before. In fact, though, I dream of coming back home and living with Siarhei and our kids in a free Belarus. For all these three years, I've played it cool when asked about the dearest person […]
May 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Kyiv Security Forum, 2023
“Ladies and gentlemen, Let me thank our Ukrainian friends for inviting me, as the representative of democratic Belarus, to discuss the future of our region’s security. We must ensure that the voice of Belarusians in preserving our national interests is heard – to more effectively fight dictators and to prepare for the post-war settlement. Since […]
May 26, 2023