Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the new European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Marta Kos.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya congratulated Commissioner Kos on her appointment and outlined the work of Belarus’ democratic forces and civil society, as well as the situation of political prisoners in the country. She provided updates on the ongoing Needs Assessment for journalists, human rights defenders, NGOs, and initiatives for the next two years. The Belarusian leader emphasized that despite repression and terror, Belarus’ civil society remains active, effective, and well-organized.
She highlighted the urgent need to expand aid for political prisoners and repressed individuals, as well as for independent media and cultural projects. Commissioner Kos announced that the European Commission will allocate €30 million in 2025 to support Belarus’ civil society.
Ms. Kos and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also discussed Belarusian participation in European programs, including youth and student initiatives, Eastern Partnership programs, and international cooperation.
Additional EU support
The European Union has previously announced that it has provided €170 million in support for Belarus’ civil society since 2020, yielding the following results:
- 3,000 victims of repression have received financial, legal, and medical aid, or support in relocation from Belarus.
- Support has been provided to Belarusian human rights defenders and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus.
- Over 130 cultural figures have received aid, and more than 110 cultural projects have been implemented.
- Dozens of media organizations and bloggers, as well as hundreds of NGOs, have received assistance.
- Over 3,300 students have been awarded scholarships, and 700 individuals have received mobility grants.
3,000 female activists have completed training programs, and 4,000 entrepreneurs and business organizations have participated in EU-funded initiatives.
