Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the Reykjavik Global Forum – Women Leaders 2022
“Dear Prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, President Silvana Koch-Mehrin, Chair Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir Excellencies, friends, First of all, let me congratulate Iceland on this great conference. You often say that you are a small country. But you have a big heart. And believe me, Belarusians feel your love and your solidarity. Though there are thousands of […]
November 09, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya wished Viktar Babaryka a Happy Birthday
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today is Viktar Babaryka's birthday. But, like thousands of Belarusians, he can't celebrate his birthday surrounded by his loved ones, and for the third time he has to celebrate it behind bars. Eduard Babaryka, held hostage by the regime only as revenge on his father for his desire to help Belarusians get out […]
November 09, 2022
The Council of Europe Contact Group on Relations with Belarus: present and future value for Belarusians
In March 2022, the Council of Europe decided to cease all contacts with the Belarus regime. Its resolution instructed the CoE bodies to deepen relations with the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society and cooperate on human rights, independent media, and youth policy. In September 2022, the decision was made to establish a Contact Group […]
November 09, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya shared a list of initiatives that help political prisoners and their families
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “In October, the “courts” in Belarus passed a total of 425 years of imprisonment in the so-called protest cases. All these years, the regime took away from free Belarusians in just one month, and this figure keeps growing every day. So does the number of political prisoners held in inhumane conditions. So does […]
November 08, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya completed her visit to Strasbourg, where she opened the Contact Group of the Council of Europe and discussed tribunal for Lukashenka
As part of the visit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the World Forum for Democracy held by the Council of Europe and attended by representatives of more than 100 countries. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Tiny Kox and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe […]
November 08, 2022
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech at the opening of the Contact group in the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, 2022
“Dear Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure to be here today and, together with Madam Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, inaugurate the work of this Contact Group. This is indeed a unique situation. Never in the history of the Council of Europe the state was presented not by a formal government. But […]
November 07, 2022
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 […]
November 07, 2022
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 […]
November 07, 2022
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 […]
November 07, 2022
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 […]
November 05, 2022
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 […]
November 04, 2022
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 […]
November 03, 2022
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, […]
November 03, 2022
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 […]
November 02, 2022
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 […]
November 01, 2022
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 […]
October 30, 2022
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 […]
October 28, 2022
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 […]
October 28, 2022
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, […]
October 28, 2022
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 […]
October 27, 2022
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 […]
October 27, 2022
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 […]
October 26, 2022
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 […]
October 24, 2022
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 […]
October 24, 2022
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 […]
October 21, 2022
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, […]
October 21, 2022
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 […]
October 21, 2022
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 […]
October 20, 2022
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 […]
October 19, 2022