On April 21, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in a ceremony in Warsaw dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Viasna Human Rights Center. She congratulated Viasna’s members on the anniversary, highlighted their key role in the Belarusian human rights community, and emphasized that Viasna has become a symbol of support for Belarusians facing persecution.
She noted the organization’s resilience, as it continues its work despite pressure and repression, and praised the courage of its representatives, including those who have been imprisoned.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya presented the Cross of Freedom to Ales Bialiatski — an award of the United Transitional Cabinet, granted in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the struggle for human rights, freedom, and democracy. Ales Bialiatski became the first recipient of this award.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “For thirty years, Viasna has been our Belarusian legend. You have helped tens, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of people. No matter how much the regime tries to destroy Viasna, it always rises again and continues its work. There is still a long road ahead, and we will walk it together”.
