Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: While the regime rewrites our history, we must do everything to guard it
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Last Friday a man called me during my public phone-in. He has been fascinated by the history of Belarus his entire life. His father cultivated this love for it. The man was outraged by the regime's recent attempts to rewrite our history, hide the real facts, cross out our national heroes from the […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the plenary session of the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, 2022
“Vice President Charanzova, President Elbegdorj, Minister Romascanu, Professor Tiburi, Excellencies, friends, First, let me address young Belarusians, who are here in the audience today. I know that you participated in the pro-democracy uprising in 2020, and had to flee the country. I know that each of you has friends or family members who were jailed […]
United Transitional Cabinet provided two state-of-the-art drones to the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment in Ukraine
During a working visit, Head of the Cabinet Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya asked foreign partners to help Belarusian volunteers. As the result, an agreement was reached on providing support for the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment. Funds were disbursed for the purchase of two state-of-the-art drones to help Belarusian volunteers perform their mission of protecting Ukraine from the Russian […]
The inaugural meeting of the Contact Group on Belarus will be held in Strasbourg on November 7
The Contact Group, established by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society, will hold its first meeting on November 7 at 15.00 in Strasbourg at the Palace of Europe. The work of the Contact Group will be opened by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and […]
United Transitional Cabinet Representatives Valery Kavaleuski and Alina Koushyk met with parliamentary group For Democratic Belarus in Kyiv
United Transitional Cabinet Representative For Foreign Affairs Valery Kavaleuski and Representative For National Revival Alina Koushyk held a working meeting in Kyiv with MPs Oleksiy Goncharenko, Vadym Halaichuk and Bohdan Yaremenko, who head the Interfaction Association For Democratic Belarus within the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. At the meeting they: discussed their positions on the involvement […]
What concerns all of us? Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the shortage of doctors and teachers, falling wages and new bans
In this video Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks about what concerns every Belarusian. Belarus has an acute shortage of doctors, with healthcare institutions lacking up to 3.5 thousand physicians. This means that one day a standby doctor may not have enough time to save the life of someone we love. Belarus does not have enough teachers in […]
Siarhei Tsikhanouski shared his thoughts following his release from punishment cell and urged to remember the regime still takes revenge on many Belarusians
“I don't know how long they let me out for. Maybe just for me to buy toiletries and get cleaned up. Other Belarusians in different institutions are kept in dire conditions too. Here in Zhodzina Uladzimir Kniha has been in the SHU for more than four months. He is a former riot policeman from Hrodna, […]
Tatsiana Zaretskaya resigned as the United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Finance and Economics
Tatsiana Zaretskaya resigned as the United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Finance and Economics due to the pressure exerted on her, her relatives, and her business partners. The leadership and representatives of the Cabinet express their full support, solidarity, and understanding of Tatsiana's decision. The Cabinet will comprehensively support the investigation of this case to bring […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: This week Belarus marks Dziady. Belarusians visit cemeteries to honor the memory of their deceased loved ones
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: Dziady is a day that unites generations of Belarusians — the living and the dead. It is a day when we come together as a family and remember those who are no longer with us. It is a very important day for me. But, like thousands of Belarusians, I can't spend it with my […]
Coordination Council to be reformed
The Coordination Council was established by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in 2020 as a body that represents the Belarusian society for comprehensive dialogue with the authorities. It will be reformed to represent the views of civil society more broadly and fairly. Following the establishment of the United Transitional Cabinet in August 2022, its members made the decision to reform […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: Today is Grandparents’ Day, little-known yet so heartfelt”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, we celebrate Grandparents’ Day, a little-known yet so heartfelt holiday. I am becoming more and more convinced that our grandparents are real superheroes. Even with poor health, they find the strength to smile at their beloved grandchildren and feed us the most delicious pancakes. Even with an unfairly low Belarusian pension, they […]
Siarhei Tsikhanouski was released from punitive confinement
It was reported that after two months in the punishment cell, the conditions of Mr. Tsikhanouski’s arrest in the prison of Zhodzina had changed. “After a long deprivation, you realize what a blessing it is to feel indoor temperature. And a cup of “Starbucks coffee” is something incredible! A thin prison mattress made of rags […]
Legalization of stay and education opportunities for Belarusians, support for political prisoners: results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Estonia
Within the two-day visit, the National Leader of Belarus and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet met with the Estonian President Alar Karis, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament Marko Mihkelson, Speaker of the Parliament Jüri Ratas, and the parliamentary group For Democratic Belarus. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Parliament, […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: Dozens of markets and malls across Belarus got empty for a single day”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, dozens of markets and malls across Belarus got empty for a single day. Shoppers saw closed pavilions as salespeople refused to go to work. It happened not even because the income has dropped due to the crisis or because the taxes have been constantly increasing. The regime has long started to fight […]
Belarusians were promised $500 salaries, high pensions, and peaceful skies. Another failure of the regime?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: We're seeing the prices go up, no matter how hard the regime tries to freeze them. That's because prices do not follow orders and can't be intimidated with batons. We are hearing officials promise that Belarusians should not be afraid of hunger or cold, but we used to hear promises of a $500 […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya saw 1920s correspondence between the Belarusian Democratic Republic and the Estonian government. It mostly concerned visas and residence permits
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the National Archives of Estonia. Prior to the visit, the National Archives had found unique materials from the Belarusian Democratic Republic (BNR) concerning its relations with Estonia. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was shown the original letter of recognition of Estonia's independence by the BNR Rada. Belarus, which was one of the first countries to […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address to the Riigikogu, 2022
“Honorable Speaker of Parliament Jüri Ratas, Distinguished Members of Parliament, I understand that a speech by a foreigner in the Estonian parliament is a rare event. It is an honor for me to speak on behalf of Belarusians, who have been fighting for their freedom, independence and European future for more than two years. Every […]
The Estonian Foreign Minister handed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya a copy of the document on the recognition of Estonia’s independence by the Belarusian Democratic Republic
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu today handed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya a copy of the document on the recognition of Estonia's independence by the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. The paper had been found in the archives. The ceremonial handover took place at the Estonian Foreign Ministry. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia said that […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: If the day comes when Belarusian troops cross the Ukrainian border, there will be no turning back”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “If the day comes when Belarusian troops cross the Ukrainian border, there will be no turning back. The attack might trigger missile launches targeting Belarusian cities. Belarus may find itself behind the Iron Curtain, the shelves may get empty, and the border may be closed completely. The crisis will get even worse because […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “One day all these trumped-up criminal cases will be overturned. What we will have forever are honor and conscience”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We've got used to constant accusations, criminal cases, and the "extremists" and "terrorists" labels. Today, for the first time the regime initiated its newly-introduced "special proceedings" needed to prepare "trials in absentia" and new criminal cases. They have already brought 10 of them against me, 8 against Pavel Latushka, 5 against Volha Kavalkova, […]
The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova voted to establish the group For a Democratic Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Representative for the Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation was present at the voting in the Moldovan Parliament on October 20. The decision followed an hour and a half of debates. Communist and Socialist MPs left the hall in protest against its adoption. Anatoli Liabedzka: “The established group includes 20 people, with the Deputy […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the national pride of Belarusians
“Maryna Zolatava and Liudmila Chekina founded a media outlet millions of Belarusians would read. Almost every second Belarusian used to start their day by reading the news on TUT.by. Today, the regime listed Maryna and Liudmila as “terrorists.” Who else is on the list? Maryia Kalesnikava, Maksim Znak, Pavel Latushka, Aliaksandr Azarau, Antanina Kanavalava and […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “So is it school or army?”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “With yet another decree, the regime obliged all private schools and kindergartens in Belarus to obtain a license. But most of them had been shut down before the law was adopted. The fact that the new rules do not affect the operation of public schools, but impose unfeasible conditions on private initiatives, indicates […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s statement on the arrest of Darya Losik
“This morning at 7:30 a.m. the police came to the apartment where political prisoner Ihar Losik's wife Darya and their daughter Paulina were sleeping. Now the three-year-old girl has both her father and mother in prison. Darya is a woman with incredible stamina and willpower. Every day she showed Ihar and all of us what […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on the verdict in the case of Mikalai Autukhovich
“Mikalai Autukhovich – 25 years. Halina Dzerbysh – 20 years. Volha Mayorava – 20 years. Pavel Sava – 20 years. Pavel Rezanovich – 19 years. Viktar Snehur – 19 years. Uladzimir Hundar – 18 years. Iryna Melkher – 17 years. Siarhei Rezanovich – 16 years. Liubou Rezanovich – 15 years. Iryna Harachkina – 6 years […]
Mission in Brussels, support for the repressed, possible visit to Cyprus: results of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Belgium
Within her visit to Belgium, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held meetings with the leadership of the European Parliament and the European Commission, the President of Flanders, the Belgian Foreign Minister, the speakers of the Czech, Lithuanian, and Cypriot Parliaments and a number of MEPs. She also met with the Belarusian diaspora in Brussels. During her visit, Ms. […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Alina Koushyk congratulated Belarusian women on Mother’s Day
Belarusians celebrate Mother's Day on October 14. National leader of Belarus and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Cabinet Representative for National Revival Alina Koushyk congratulated Belarusian women on this occasion. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear Belarusian women, dear mothers and grandmothers! Congratulations to you on Mother's Day. Loving a child is more than […]
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to launch the Mission for Democratic Belarus in Brussels
Today, the national leader and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya signed the required documents with the leadership of Flanders and received the keys to the premises where the Mission will operate. The Flanders government handed over the building to the democratic forces completely free of charge. Today, the premises hosted the first […]
“Recognise the United Transitional Cabinet as the true representative of the people”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address to European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2022
“Dear Chairman Mcallister, Distinguished members of the European Parliament, Dear friends, Last week, an amazing thing happened. Our good friend, human rights defender, and personal hero for me and for many – Ales Bialacki – won the Nobel Peace Prize. Please let’s give him a round of applause! Ales received the news about this prize […]