During her visit to Albania, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Erion Veliaj. The Mayor of Tirana spoke about the city’s initiatives to support Belarusians and Belarusian IT companies and emphasized that Tirana and Albania are open to all those persecuted by the Lukashenka regime.
Mr. Veliaj and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya agreed on:
- Rehabilitation for political prisoners’ children. In the summer of 2025, Tirana will host 50 Belarusian children for rest and recovery.
- Internships. Around 10-20 Belarusians will have the opportunity to intern at local government institutions and the Tirana City Hall.
- Launch of an educational program. It will be available for Belarusian students at the College of Europe in Tirana. Additionally, scholarships will be announced for studying at POLIS University.
- Cooperation with the Pact of Free Cities. A partnership memorandum has been signed between the alliance of cities and the democratic forces of Belarus to train specialists in local governance.
- International Human Rights Film Festival. This fall, Belarusian documentary filmmakers will be invited to participate.
- Day of Solidarity with Belarus. On March 25, dedicated events will be held in Tirana in support of Belarusians.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am truly grateful to Tirana for its hospitality and solidarity. Political prisoners’ children will have the chance to recover, young professionals will gain internship opportunities, and students will have access to education. Albania, as a country that has overcome dictatorship, understands how crucial broad support is on the path to freedom and democracy”.
