Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with advisor to Ukraine’s President Oleksiy Arestovych
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked Mr. Arestovych for supporting Belarusians. In response, he said that “it would be a mistake to call Belarusians incapable of resistance.” During the conversation Mr. Arestovich said he understands the situation in Belarus and emphasized the role of the Belarusian underground resistance. He also stressed that Ukrainians distinguish between the actions of […]
September 08, 2022
Belarusians will have a voice at the Council of Europe: a Contact Group was formed
The Council of Europe decided to establish a Contact Group for cooperation with Belarusian society. In this way, the Council of Europe adopted Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's proposal, voiced at her meetings with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and during her address to the PACE. Earlier, the Council of Europe renounced contacts with representatives […]
September 08, 2022
United Transitional Cabinet issued its first decree “On Defending Independence and Sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus”
Today, Ukraine, assessing the situation in Belarus, named it an “occupied state”. Prior to that, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister named Belarus partially occupied. This is the most difficult time for the independence of our country in the last 30 years. Defending and restoring independence is a priority for the United Transitional Cabinet, and thus the first […]
September 07, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We will be happy to see every person who is released. But absolutely everyone must be free”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, ten political prisoners were sentenced to a total of 94 years in prison. Marfa Rabkova, a coordinator of the Viasna Human Rights Center, was sentenced to 15 years in prison just for helping people. Immediately after the sentence was read, detentions began – relatives of the convicts, human rights activists, and even […]
September 06, 2022
Why Belarus still needs constitutional reform?
The significant amendments to the Constitution of Belarus adopted in 1996, 2004 and 2022 after holding referendums destroyed the balance of powers between the authorities and subsequently concentrated all power in the hands of the President. The European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) has stated that this only exacerbated the lack of […]
September 06, 2022
Tatiana Shchyttsova on Knowledge Day: “Whether our children will have a future depends on their teachers and parents”
Tatiana Shchyttsova: “September 1 marks Knowledge Day in Belarus. It is the most democratic holiday because it relates to everyone in our society. Knowledge is the universal value that binds everyone together: It connects different generations. It links private and public interests. It binds the interests of business and civil society. Every parent wants their […]
September 01, 2022
“You have seen with your own eyes what is good and evil”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s words to children
“This year, the first of September is a good day for me – I can take the children to school myself. A year ago I couldn’t be with them on their first day at school after holidays because of a working visit. But for years I had been a mum who would always be at […]
September 01, 2022
Franak Viacorka: “We shouted – and were heard: European ministers will not restrict visas for Belarusians”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor Franak Viacorka is currently at the Forum for Ukraine in Prague involving EU foreign ministers, Ukrainian FM Kuleba and EU High Representative Josep Borrell. Preliminary information suggests no visa ban will be imposed on Belarusians. Franak Viacorka: “We shouted – and were heard: the European ministers will not impose visa restrictions on […]
August 31, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė
Yesterday, August 29, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya greeted Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė at her office in Vilnius. The Prime Minister spoke with the team of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office and representatives of the newly formed United Transitional Cabinet, who told her about the work of the Cabinet, as well as the democratic forces' campaigns in support of […]
August 30, 2022
Siarhei Tsikhanouski was transferred to Zhodzina prison
On August 10, the regime transferred Siarhei Tsikhanouski to a prison regime for 3 years, deeming that the high-security penal colony was not a strong enough punishment for him. On August 18, exactly on his birthday, Siarhei was transferred to the prison and immediately placed in an isolation cell – that was the regime's “Happy Birthday” […]
August 28, 2022
“Today is the day that must be our national holiday.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Belarus’ Independence and the United Transitional Cabinet
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, August 25, is the day that must be our national holiday – the Day of Restoration of Independence of Belarus. For the regime, sovereignty was never a celebration or a value – but a commodity that could be traded to retain power. Torture, political persecution, dismissals, destruction of businesses have nothing in […]
August 25, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulates Ukrainians on Independence Day
“Dear President Zelenskyy, Dear Ukrainians, On behalf of the people of Belarus and the United Transitional Cabinet, I congratulate you on the Independence Day of Ukraine! This day resonates in the hearts and souls of every Belarusian who wants freedom. Today you are selflessly defending both your freedom and the independence of Europe. The free […]
August 24, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s letter to Head of Wajda Film School Filip Marczewski
“Dear Filip, With this letter, I would like to express my support to the Wajda School and Gdynia Film School that organized a special course for Belarusian filmmakers FILM BRIDGE – BELARUS in Poland in 2021-2022. Our national culture is now in danger as the illegitimate regime in Belarus is destroying everything that belongs to […]
August 22, 2022
When will sanctions end? Do we need lustrations? Will we receive pensions? FAQ about the transition period
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear Uladzimir, Leu, Aleh and Anatoli. Thank you for your willingness to share your vision of the transition period. I see the transition period as the time from the moment the regime already lost control over the state and security apparatus – to the moment of free elections and the establishment of democratic […]
August 19, 2022
Eliminate dependence on Russia and support the people. Six priorities to get Belarus out of crisis
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear Pavel, Aliaksandr, Dzmitry, Vadzim, Aliaksandr. Thank you for your willingness to share your vision of the strategy in the first panel. I will share with you the six priorities that I see – and take a seat in the room and listen with interest to your positions and discussions. And along with […]
August 18, 2022
Today is Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s birthday
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear Siarhei, this is the third year we can't wish you a Happy Birthday and hug you in person. But no matter how hard someone tries, they cannot take us, your family, away from you, they cannot take away the love of Ahniya and Karnei – you see their drawings and letters, right? […]
August 18, 2022
Who’s getting the funds? What’s the 30 million euro from Europe? How does international assistance work?
In this video, Andrei Yahorau, International Assistance Coordinator at Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, explains how international assistance is allocated to Belarusians. – How does the European Union allocate money for Belarusians? – Who distributes funds? – What are the funds used for? “The European Commission chooses an entity which will be responsible for ensuring that the […]
August 17, 2022
What have Belarusians achieved in 2 years?
“What if we didn't do everything the way we expected of us? We compare ourselves to imaginary selves who should have won in 2 months, and so we feel like we failed to do anything in 2 years. But we need to compare ourselves with our former selves, who had never before gone so far […]
August 15, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Representative on Education and Science on the closure of a Lithuanian school in Belarus
Tatiana Shchyttsova: “After eliminating Polish-language school education in Hrodna, the Lukashenka regime started destroying Lithuanian-language schools. There are only two such schools in Belarus – in Pelesa and Rimdziuny. On August 12, the Pelesa secondary school was reported to be closed based on the Ministry of Emergency Situations inspection results, with non-compliance with the safety […]
August 14, 2022
United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Foreign Relations met with the head of the Belarus Affairs Unit in the US Embassy
Valery Kavaleuski, United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Foreign Relations, met in Vilnius with Peter Kaufman, the newly appointed head of the Belarus Affairs Unit in the US Embassy in Lithuania. The discussion was Kavaleuski’s first official meeting in his new capacity. They discussed the intensified political process among the Belarusian democratic forces, in particular, the […]
August 13, 2022
United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Foreign Relations: “Don’t leave the Belarusian people alone against aggressive Russia”
Valery Kavaleuski: “The Latvian Saeima appeal to the EU countries to suspend the tourist visas and restrict new entry visas to Belarus citizens shifts the burden of responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine from Aliaksandr Lukashenka and his dictatorial regime to the Belarusian people, the absolute majority of whom oppose this war and […]
August 11, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Siarhei Tsikhanouski is being transferred from colony to prison for three years”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Siarhei Tsikhanouski is being sent from colony to prison for three years – transferred to a prison regime, as they call it. I know neither the reasons for this decision, nor where he will be transferred. Dear Siarhei, I wish you knew how much I am looking forward to the moment to hear […]
August 11, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced the United Transitional Cabinet and named its first members
“I made the decision to establish the United Transitional Cabinet, a collective executive body that will work daily to achieve the main goals: Defend the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, represent the national interests of Belarus. Carry out the de facto de-occupation of Belarus. Restore constitutional legality and the rule of law. […]
August 09, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s New Belarus Conference keynote address in Vilnius
“Dear guests, former political prisoners and prisoners' relatives, partners, journalists, representatives of civil society and business, diplomats. I welcome all participants and viewers, and express my gratitude for joining us. To be honest, I have been really worried about these two days, over whether we will have enough time to talk and look into each […]
August 08, 2022
FAQ about the New Belarus Conference – Who is holding the New Belarus Conference and why?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as the elected leader of the Belarusian people is convening the New Belarus Conference. Preparations for the Conference began back in April, but the format was finalized only in July. Representatives of various political groups are taking part in organizing the Conference. Political, social, and cultural figures are invited to participate to discuss […]
August 07, 2022
Live stream of New Belarus Conference will start at 11:30
The online live stream of the New Belarus Conference will start on August 8 at 11:30 a.m. Minsk time. The welcoming speech by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will begin at 12:00. The full program of the two working days with the list of participants is available at the link: https://conferencenewbelarus.org. You are welcome to post your questions […]
August 07, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya answers Belarusians’ questions, collected by businessman Aliaksandr Knyrovich
1. “Trust” 1.1 What do you (your organization) intend to do to end the public “finger-pointing”? From your point of view, is any of the “proto-parliament” options a solution to this issue? If yes, how do you see it forming and functioning? If not, what alternatives do you see? – Let's start with the finger-pointing […]
August 07, 2022
International action of the Belarusian diaspora «Day of dignity», to commemorate the second anniversary of the 2020 presidential elections
At least 26 cities around the world are protesting against Lukashenka’s dictatorship. 06.08. (Saturday) Bydgoszcz 16:00, Most Jerzego Sulimy-Kamińskiego More details 07.08. (Sunday) Bialystok 16:00, March of Dignity, Rynek Kościuszki 4, Białystok Gathering of participants near the Pilsudski monument, after which we will walk through the streets of Bialystok to the Consulate of the Republic […]
August 06, 2022
Digest of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Education and Science, July 2022 / Issue 12
Please send any information concerning education in Belarus to our safe and anonymous Telegram chatbot @eduOST_bot. Please send us news from your educational institution or government agency about repression and various forms of pressure from the administration, corruption and new orders that seem unreasonable or irrational to you. We also invite you to share your […]
August 01, 2022