From October 1-4, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya officially visited Poland. She held meetings in Warsaw at the highest level, focusing on further international support for the democratic forces of Belarus and increased pressure on the Lukashenka regime.
During the visit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, Marshal of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, Minister of the Interior, Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski. In addition, she had working meetings with international diplomats and government representatives, including with the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Monica Jacobsen, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Celeste Wallander, Minister Delegate for European Affairs of France, Benjamin Haddad, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, as well as representatives from the Georgian parliament and the Belgian embassy in Poland.
The meetings focused on key issues affecting the future of Belarus and support for the democratic community. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for joining Lithuania’s referral of the regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court and holding the regime accountable. She emphasized the need for helping repressed individuals and their families through the International Humanitarian Fund, as well as helping human rights defenders and civil society activists who continue their work in difficult conditions. Discussions also touched on the expansion of Schengen visa programs and educational scholarships for Belarusian students and youth to maintain their ties with Europe and support their pursuit of freedom and education.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed the role of Belarus in peace negotiations regarding Ukraine, emphasizing that a democratic and independent Belarus is crucial for regional stability and peace. She highlighted that Belarus and Ukraine share a common future, adding that a democratic transition in Belarus will be an important step toward security for the entire region.
During the visit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in several international and cultural events. She spoke at a panel on Belarus at the Warsaw Security Forum and took part in a discussion on “Strengthening Women’s Voices in Security and Defense”. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also addressed the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw, focusing on the release of political prisoners in Belarus. She delivered a speech at the School for Leaders, calling for persistence and courage in the struggle for freedom. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also attended the ceremony for the award “For Free Thought”, which went to the Naviband musicians.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya participated in a meeting of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus and, along with Pavel Latushka, held a press conference following Lithuania’s referral of the Lukashenka regime’s crimes to the ICC. She was interviewed by several Belarusian, Polish, and international media, sharing her vision for the situation in Belarus and the ways to secure a democratic transition.
VIEW PHOTOS OF THE VISIT AT THE LINK
