Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Irish Foreign Minister and discussed support for the Belarusian language, student exchanges, and assistance to civil society
On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with Micheál Martin, former prime minister and current foreign minister of Ireland. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called on Ireland to support initiatives for the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners, projects to strengthen national identity, the work of the Contact Group on Belarus within […]
February 18, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis
Pinchas Solomonovich Goldschmidt is a world-renowned rabbi, scholar, and leader of the Jewish community. Mr. Goldschmidt and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the situation of the Jewish community in Belarus, as well as contacts with Israel. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned Lukashenka's anti-Semitic statements and noted the important role of the Jewish community in Belarusian history. The Belarusian leader […]
February 17, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the Munich Security Conference: “The security of the entire region depends on Belarus.”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on Europe to be decisive and consistent, emphasized the need to hold accomplices of the Lukashenka regime accountable, and spoke about Belarusian partisans, cyber-partisans, and volunteer fighters in Ukraine. She also stressed the importance of caring for the future security of the region now. “Belarus should not remain a problem to be […]
February 17, 2023
Future security in the region and a shared strategy in the region between Baltic Sea and the Black Sea: talks in Munich with Olaf Scholz
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and a delegation of the Office and the United Transitional Cabinet held a meeting with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz. They discussed the need for a new coordinated strategy to defend Belarus’ independence. They also met with the Head of Scholz's Chancellery, Wolfgang Schmidt, to discuss the future regional security and a […]
February 17, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s delegation held talks on regional security with Head of Olaf Scholz’s Chancellery at the Munich Conference
At the Munich Security Conference, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Wolfgang Schmidt, Head of Olaf Scholz's Chancellery. They discussed the future of security in the region. They discussed: – forming a coalition in support of a democratic Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged Germany to become the leader of such a coalition to ensure a peaceful transition of […]
February 17, 2023
New Belarus passport, visa procedures simplification: meeting with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson
At the meeting, a draft document was presented that exiled Belarusians could use as their ID, show to confirm their citizenship, and, in a perfect scenario, travel with. Although there is still a lot of work ahead, an important first step has been taken in this direction to ensure that the document is in line […]
February 17, 2023
Support for the Contact Group and participation in the Council of Europe summit. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland and current chair of the Council of Europe Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir. Representatives of Iceland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Belarus’ United Transitional Cabinet and the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also joined the meeting. They discussed the expansion of Belarus's participation in Council of […]
February 17, 2023
The Munich Security Conference started. Regional security contours and strategies for releasing political prisoners on the agenda of the Belarusian delegation
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's delegation, including representatives of her Office and the United Transitional Cabinet, began their working meetings. They have already met with Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador who is now actively working to help Ukraine and Belarus. In view of the recent signals from the regime, they discussed a strategy for the release of […]
February 17, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is heading to Germany to take part in the Munich Security Conference
In this address to Belarusians, she explains why this conference is important for Belarusians, what she will be doing in Munich, and how it will help Belarusians. She will hold a number of meetings with politicians and communicate to them the importance of distinguishing the people of Belarus from the regime, preventing the deployment of […]
February 16, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, at the invitation of President Gitanas Nausėda, took part in the solemn events in honor of the Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Speaker of the Parliament Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, former President Dalia Grybauskaitė, former President Valdas Adamkus, and the first leader of Lithuania after the restoration of independence Vytautas Landsbergis for today’s events dedicated to the Lithuanian national holiday, the State Restoration Day. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: […]
February 16, 2023
“Siarhei, I know we will get through this”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya – on the day of the new “trial” of Siarhei Tsikhanouski
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The other day I heard that celebrating St. Valentine’s Day was forbidden in our country. And today, on this very day, my husband is on trial again in Belarus. I do not want to waste words on those who judge with no respect for the law and forbid people to live their lives. […]
February 14, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Athletes supporting the war must not be cleared to compete in the Olympics”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Just as the free-minded athlete Nadzeya Astapchuk has been held for a month and a half in detention under conditions of torture and then forced to repent in an interview, the world is seriously discussing whether the athletes of the regime and Russia can be admitted to the Olympics. Since 2020, Belarusian athletes […]
February 10, 2023
Security wing, cooperation with Ukraine, aid for political prisoners: United Transitional Cabinet reports on six months of work
As the United Transitional Cabinet neared its six months milestone, it issued a press release with half-year results from its representatives. The results in the report cover: – Belarus in the international arena. – Cooperation with Ukraine. – The work of the Cabinet’s security wing. – Sanctions against the regime’s “wallets” and those responsible for […]
February 09, 2023
Resolution in support of Belarus. Results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Poland
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Poland at the invitation of the Speaker of the Polish Senate. Today Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Polish Senate. In her speech, she urged Poland to be stay resolute and stand up for Belarus' independence. She also urged senators to include Belarus in their election agendas during the campaign in Poland. Sviatlana […]
February 08, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the sentences of Andrzej Poczobut and rail partisans Yury Selvich and Siarhei Pliashkun
“Today the "court" handed down two politically motivated sentences at once – to journalist Andrzej Poczobut and rail partisans Yury Selvich and Siarhei Pliashkun. 8, 14, 16 years of imprisonment. As a professional journalist, Andrzej Poczobut has been defending human rights. The sentence of 8 years in a high-security prison shows the regime's attitude toward […]
February 08, 2023
On February 7-8, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will visit Warsaw to speak at the plenary session of the Polish Senate
At the invitation of the Marshal (Speaker) of the Polish Senate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet will take part in the Senate hearings, with the Belarusian leader making an address. Also that day, the Senate intends to adopt a resolution on Belarus. In addition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is scheduled to meet the […]
February 07, 2023
Digest of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Education and Science, January 2023 / Issue 1
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 […]
February 06, 2023
Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Tadevush Kastsiushka was born on this day”
Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Tadevush Kastsiushka was born on this day. The United States, Poland, and France have been fighting for the right to call him their national hero. But Belarus has not. Although he fought for Belarusians’ right to be Belarusians. Kastsiushka was one of the people at the dawn of the Belarusian national consciousness. But […]
February 04, 2023
Support for artists and cultural initiatives: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Alina Koushyk met with the Belarusian Council for Culture
On February 2, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayaya and United Transitional Cabinet Representative for National Revival Alina Koushyk met with the heads of the Belarusian Council for Culture Siarhei Budkin and Ales Chakhouski. The meeting took place at Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayaya's Office in Vilnius. The Belarusian Council for Culture spoke about the results of its work in 2022. Throughout […]
February 03, 2023
The Council of Europe launched an action plan to support Belarus’ democratic forces and civil society in 2023
The Contact Group on Belarus was established within the Council of Europe by the resolution of the CoE Committee of Ministers on September 7, 2022. The Group comprises representatives of the democratic forces and civil society of Belarus, as well as representatives of the Council of Europe. The Contact Group held its meetings on November […]
February 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today we celebrate the birthday of Kastus Kalinowski”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today is the birthday of Kastus Kalinowski. He sacrificed his life so that the Belarusians could have an independent state, determine their own fate, and decide their way of life. But Kalinowski was not the one who started this struggle – he continued what other outstanding Belarusians did before him. And although Belarus […]
February 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the outcomes of the 2nd meeting of CoE – Belarus Contact Group, 2023
“Madam President, Madam Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to speak to you again. We have progressed considerably since we discussed the idea of establishing a Council of Europe Contact Group with Belarus. I am grateful for your decision from 7 September, and for the dedication of the Council of Europe […]
February 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the new “trial” against Siarhei Tsikhanouski
“When one does not obey, is not afraid, does not turn into mediocrity or hide behind others’ backs, he viciously violates the regime’s prison rules. This is the reason they are going to put my husband on trial yet another time. Perhaps they really think they can tame him this way and turn him into […]
February 01, 2023
The US will appoint a Belarus special envoy: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robin Dunnigan
The meeting was held on January 30 in Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office premises in Vilnius and was also attended by the United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Foreign Affairs and the Office’s Foreign Policy Department, as well as members of the US diplomatic mission. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the situation of political prisoners, prison conditions, recent trials, […]
January 31, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, Eduard Babaryka spends his third birthday in detention”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, Eduard Babaryka spends his third birthday in detention, at the detention center on Valadarskaha street in Minsk. You know, I think the trumped-up case against Eduard reflects well the essence of the repressive machine in Belarus. Eduard has been kept hostage for almost 1000 days just because he is the son of […]
January 30, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayaya: “Today we all heard that a Belarusian volunteer, Eduard Lobau, died in the war in Ukraine”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today we all heard that a Belarusian volunteer, Eduard Lobau, died in the war in Ukraine. He was really an outstanding Belarusian. He defended Belarus, which was the reason why the regime made him a political prisoner back in 2010. He served his entire term in one of the worst prisons in Belarus […]
January 27, 2023
Facilitating visas and residence permits, supporting Belarusian initiatives: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor Kristina Rikhter addressed the PACE Migration Committee
The PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons has appointed special rapporteur Paul Galles to prepare a report on “Addressing the specific challenges faced by the Belarusians in exile”. This report is a chance to investigate the real situation of Belarusians in exile, as well as address recommendations to Council of Europe member states (including […]
January 27, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Croatian Parliament and met with its Speaker, the Croatian academic community, and Belarusian diaspora
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković for not recognizing Lukashenka as president and spoke about the latest trials of rail partisans, TUT.by journalists, as well as trials in absentia of the Coordination Council and exiled athletes. At a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya invited MPs to take […]
January 27, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Faculty of Political Sciences of Zagreb University in Croatia, 2023
“Dear friends, Dear students, Dear Mr. Karlo Kolesar, Dear Mr. Ivica Miškulin, I’m very grateful to the Croatian Academic Union for the opportunity to address you today. Let me also thank to you, my dear students, for coming to talk to me instead of spending time with your friends. I'm not sure that in my […]
January 27, 2023