During her visit to Italy, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Bologna, where she met with Mayor Matteo Lepore, engaged with the local Belarusian diaspora, and participated in the presentation of the book “Belarus: Alive Between Dictatorship and Resistance”, published in Italian. She also visited the Polish War Cemetery, where soldiers of Anders’ Army are buried, and laid flowers on the graves of Belarusians who took part in the liberation of Bologna during World War II.
📌 During meetings with city officials, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for:
- Supporting the Belarusian diaspora and Belarusian cultural initiatives;
- Providing scholarships and other educational opportunities for young Belarusians;
- Exploring rehabilitation programs for Belarusians affected by repression.
📌 In discussions with the Belarusian diaspora, she focused on:
- Organizing solidarity events for Belarus and Ukraine;
- Fundraising for political prisoners and the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment fighters;
- Expanding cooperation with local authorities to increase support for Belarus.
A special ceremony was held at Bologna’s City Hall, where Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was granted Honorary Citizenship of Bologna – a distinction awarded for outstanding contributions to society. This honorary status is a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the Belarusian people from the Bologna City Council.
📖 Read about the results of the visit to Florence.
