September 15, 2023
“We chose mutual assistance even when we could barely take care of ourselves”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on International Day of Democracy
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on the International Day of Democracy. She called on Belarusians to stay united and continue to help each other while fighting for freedom, despite the regime’s attempts to divide people. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Belarusians keep carefully nurturing the seeds of democracy within themselves every day. When they walk through downtown Minsk with […]
September 14, 2023
European Parliament address, resolution on Belarus, Kalinowski Conference: results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Strasbourg
On September 12-13, a number of events focused on Belarus were held in the European Parliament. September 12 – Debates were held on the situation in Belarus, where Petras Auštravičius presented a draft resolution. The MEPs stressed the importance of cooperation with Belarus’ democratic forces and civil society, visa support for Belarusians inside the country, […]
September 14, 2023
Belarus Days in the European Parliament
On September 12-13, a series of events focused on Belarus were held in the European Parliament, organized by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the delegation for relations with Belarus led by MEP Juozas Olekas, and the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. On September 12, debates were held on the release of political prisoners, […]
September 13, 2023
Exhibition “Belarusian Martyrology” by artist Xisha Aniolava opened at the European Parliament
The grand opening of the exhibition took place on September 13 in Strasbourg. The exhibition will be on display at the European Parliament until September 15, after which it will travel to other cities. The exhibition is concerned with Belarusian political prisoners. The artist has created more than 600 paintings and will continue her work […]
September 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya awarded President of the European Parliament with Cross of Good Neighbourhood
The Cross of Good Neighbourhood is an award from the United Transitional Cabinet presented at the personal discretion of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to foreign or Belarusian citizens who have made an outstanding contribution to building relations between Belarus and other countries, as well as to the cause of democratic transformation in Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya presented the […]
September 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Kalinowski Conference in the European Parliament, 2023
Dear Mr Juozas Olekas, Dear Ms Anna Fotyga, Dear Ms Heidi Hautala, Dear Ms Ewa Kopacz, Dear organizers and participants of the forum, friends and colleagues, My fellow Belarusians, Three years ago, after the police crackdown on peaceful protesters in Minsk, our great friend Zygis Pavilionis organized the first Kalinowski conference in Vilnius. Since then, […]
September 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to European Parliament: “We will come to your governments asking to recognize our new passports”
During her speech in the European Parliament, the Belarusian leader presented the project of the new Belarusian passport and spoke about Lukashenka's recent decree. “This decree puts at risk the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people. We need a quick and lasting solution. We are working to start issuing national Belarusian passports. We […]
September 13, 2023
Kalinowski Conference in the European Parliament
Right now, the European Parliament is hosting the Kalinowski Conference, where Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will deliver opening remarks. The conference is organized by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in partnership with the European Dialogue Center. It will focus on the prospects of Belarus' European integration, political prisoners in Belarus, and the Russian threat to the country’s […]
September 13, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech in the European Parliament, 2023
Madam President Metsola, Roberta, Distinguished Members of the European Parliament, When I was here two years ago, I spoke about tyranny as a virus – a virus that will not be contained by borders. And the past two years have shown that the virus of tyranny can mutate into the deadly cancer of war. Unlike […]
September 12, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We need to strengthen connections between Belarusians and Europe”
Tomorrow, the Belarusian leader will address the European Parliament, which brings together seven hundred MPs from all across the EU. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Two years ago, in that very hall, I said that if we didn’t stop the dictatorship, it would become a threat to all of Europe. And that's exactly what happened. Lukashenka unleashed terror, […]
September 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to support European perspective for Belarus and new passport project
During the meeting, Mr. Kristersson and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed Lukashenka’s recent decree discontinuing passport renewal at diplomatic missions abroad. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya asked the Prime Minister to look for a solution that would help Belarusians legalize their stay in Sweden and the EU. She also talked about the project of a new Belarusian passport and called […]
September 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Swedish Minister of Defense
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is on a working visit to Sweden, where she will receive the Anna Lindh Prize today. Prior to the award ceremony, she met with Minister of Defense, Pål Jonson. They discussed the situation with the Russian military presence in Belarus, the deployment of nuclear weapons, and the regime’s recent provocations at the border. […]
September 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the meeting with the OSCE and PACE delegations in Stockholm, 2023
Dear Ms Margareta Cederfelt, Dear Mr Björn Söder, Dear Mr Markus Wiechel, Dear members of PA OSCE and PACE delegations, Dear friends, As you know, I came here to the beautiful city of Stockholm to receive the Anna Lindh prize. But this prize is not for me, it’s for all Belarusians resisting the tyranny of […]
September 11, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the rally in Stockholm, 2023
Dear friends, Let me begin with the words of one of Sweden's great heroes, Raoul Wallenberg. Once, he said, “To me, there's no other choice”. These are simple words, but they tell of a great dedication to doing what's right, no matter the cost. He showed what one human being can do to fight evil. […]
September 11, 2023
Anatoli Liabedzka took part in the Political Assembly of the European People’s Party
One of the discussions during the EPP Political Assembly focused on Belarus and was attended by members of Belarus’ United Civic Party, “For Freedom” movement, and the Belarusian Christian Democracy. As a result of the assembly, the European People's Party supported the democratic forces’ Declaration on the Membership of Belarus in the European Union, adopted […]
September 10, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated Ivonka Survila on re-election as President of Rada of Belarusian Democratic Republic (BNR)
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Warm congratulations to you, dear Ms. Survila! Your work for the benefit of our country and leadership in the BNR Rada is a great inspiration to all Belarusians and me personally. I am grateful for our friendship and cooperation”.
September 08, 2023
3rd Belarusian Business Forum will be held in Warsaw on September 20
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms and Vice-President of the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad (ABBA), Aleś Alaсhnovič, invites Belarusians to the 3rd Belarusian Business Forum in Warsaw on September 20. The forum will bring together representatives of Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Polish businesses, industry experts, business associations, as well as politicians from Poland, the United […]
September 08, 2023
The Council of Europe established its Contact Group on Relations with Belarus a year ago. What has it achieved?
On September 8, 2022, the Council of Europe established the Contact Group on Relations with Belarus, becoming the first intergovernmental organization to let civil society represent a country. The group was intended to assist the Council of Europe in developing positions on Belarus, coordinate and implement projects in various fields, and help prepare reform projects […]
September 08, 2023
“Our greatest victory is ahead of us.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Day of Military Glory
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today we celebrate the Day of Military Glory. More than 500 years ago, in the Battle of Orsha, the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania under the command of Astrozhski defeated the Moscow army and prevented it from advancing on Belarusian lands. This was a victory that Belarusian, Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian […]
September 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arnoldas Abramavičius
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Lithuania, Arnoldas Abramavičius, to discuss the current issues faced by Belarusians in Lithuania regarding the legalization of stay. As a result of the meeting, the Lithuanian side confirmed that they will continue to issue residence documents to Belarusians with expired passports, although each case […]
September 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appointed Aliaksandr Milinkevich as External Advisor on Issues of Belarus’ European Choice
Aliaksandr Milinkevich is a Belarusian politician who ran for president in 2006 and was awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament. He is now the Chancellor of the Board of the Free Belarusian University. As the External Advisor on Issues of Belarus’ European Choice, Mr. Milinkevich will help establish connections between democratic Belarus and […]
September 07, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya briefed ambassadors on passport issuance and potential border closures
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a briefing in Vilnius for ambassadors and special envoys of foreign countries responsible for Belarus. The meeting was attended by diplomats from Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, the United States, and Canada and focused on political prisoners, potential border closures, Wagner PMC presence in Belarus, and Lukashenka's new decree suspending consular services […]
September 06, 2023
Kristina Rikhter: “Lukashenka’s government abandoned its obligations to ensure citizens’ rights”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs Kristina Rikhter: “Lukashenka's new decree not only prevents Belarusians from renewing their passports at embassies and consulates but also makes it impossible for them to dispose of their property in Belarus while abroad. The decree stipulates that people can no longer sell and transfer real estate and vehicles without […]
September 05, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We are working to ensure that Belarusians are not left without passports”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, the Lukashenka regime abandoned consular assistance to Belarusians, thereby distancing itself from yet another sphere of life where it should be caring for its citizens. Belarusians will now lose access to many important services – for example, it will no longer be possible to get new passports at embassies and consulates. This […]
September 04, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Maksim Znak is spending yet another birthday in prison”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Maksim Znak is spending yet another birthday in prison. A creative person, driven by the ideas of justice and respect for law, he has become a hostage of a system that he sought to change. This system cannot tolerate people who see the world through eyes full of kindness, compassion, and a desire […]
September 03, 2023
“Our stance has been acknowledged.” Franak Viacorka commented on President Nauseda’s decision to abstain from tightening restrictions against Belarusians
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Senior Advisor Franak Viacorka: “It is a positive sign that President Nauseda did not introduce a bill to the Seimas that could equalize restrictions against Belarusians in line with those against Russians. Belarusians must not be equated with Russians, just as they must not be equated with the regime. Over the past few […]
September 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Nobel Foundation’s decision to cancel invitations to ambassadors of Lukashenka and Russia shows solidarity with Belarusian and Ukrainian people”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The decision of the Nobel Foundation to cancel invitations to the ambassadors of Lukashenka and Russia is a sign of solidarity with the Belarusian and Ukrainian people. In addition, it is an act of support for Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, who has been illegally imprisoned by the Lukashenka regime for several years now. […]
September 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Belarusian exiled business and expert community
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with representatives of the Association of Belarusian Businesses Abroad (ABBA), Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC), and Imaguru Startup Hub today in her office in Vilnius. These are the largest Belarusian NGOs that support and research private Belarusian businesses. The meeting focused on the problems faced by Belarusian businesses […]
September 01, 2023
Kristina Richter: “Any limit on your rights is always explained by concern for your good, no matter how inhumane it is”
Kristina Rikhter, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Legal Affairs, commented on Lukashenka's decree establishing an automated payment incident processing system within Belarus' National (Central) Bank: “This step was presented as a measure to strengthen the fight against financial fraud, but we all know what the regime will actually use this mechanism for. The system will collect […]