A tragedy occurred this week in Warsaw. In the very center of the capital, a woman from Belarus was found barely alive with signs of rape. On March 1, she was reported to have died. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made a statement: “ I can’t describe all the pain I feel right now. But I also feel anger. Anger at the injustice. At the fact that women cannot feel safe. At the fact that some people blame the victim for what happened. I offer my sincere condolences to the woman’s family and friends. Rest in peace, Liza…”
VISIT TO SWITZERLAND. On February 26-27, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was on a working visit to Switzerland, where she visited Geneva and Bern. During her visit to Geneva, the leader met with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, as well as with the US Ambassadors to the UN and its Human Rights Council. In addition, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed delegations from more than 50 countries during the UN Human Rights Council session. She emphasized the situation with political prisoners and the humanitarian crisis in Belarus and called for decisive action from the democratic world to bring the Lukashenka regime and its accomplices to justice.
During her visit to Bern, Sviatalana Tsikhanouskaya met with the State Secretary of Switzerland and the President of the Swiss National Council. The leader urged Switzerland to demand access to prisons and information about political prisoners, as well as to create a parliamentary friendship group for Belarus. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also held a briefing for the ambassadors of the EU countries, as well as Ukraine, Canada, the USA, Norway, and the UK at the Polish embassy in Bern. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the ambassadors to support the resolution on Belarus in the UN Human Rights Council, which will be considered in March, as well as increase pressure on the regime and demand the release of political prisoners.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, shared the details of the Belarusian leader’s visit to Geneva and Bern.
SHAM ELECTION. On February 25, the so-called “single voting day” took place in Belarus. Propaganda attempted to show an unprecedented turnout and assure compliance with all electoral procedures. However, it failed to deceive those who know what democracy is. Follow the link to see how representatives of democratic countries reacted to the sham election.
KASTUS KALINOUSKI REGIMENT. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on Belarusians to support the fundraiser for drones for Belarusian volunteers. “Every donation we make, which goes towards providing fighters with gear, equipment, and especially drones, helps save lives. And that allows the fighters to do everything they can to bring peace to both Ukraine and Belarus and end the dictatorships, aggression, and violence. My dear friends, if it is safe for you, please support this fundraiser”, the leader wrote.
SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the BYSOL Solidarity Foundation, in partnership with the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad (ABBA), has launched a charity fundraiser for women in Belarus who are imprisoned on political grounds. The raised funds will be transferred to the women’s families for them to support their imprisoned relatives. “At least 180 Belarusian women are behind bars because they stood up for political beliefs and struggled for justice. I do not know what each of these women feels but I really want them to know that they are not alone. They are remembered and supported. That is why, dear friends, I ask you to join the fundraiser as long as it is safe for you. Let’s make sure that Belarusian women in captivity feel our support and care”, said the leader.
BUSINESS FORUM. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya launched the first Belarusian Business Forum in Washington, where she called on Belarusian businesspeople to support each other in solving current business problems and advocating their needs and rights.
The Belarusian Business Forum was organized by the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad (ABBA). The forum brought together Belarusian entrepreneurs based in the USA, international experts, investors, as well as representatives of influential American institutions and business associations. It focused on the needs of Belarusian businesses abroad.
EDUCATION. The Roadmap for Preparing the Reform of the General Secondary Education System in Belarus was presented In February. It was created by a group of experts at the initiative of the Education Team of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and with the participation of the United Transitional Cabinet. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s team released a summary where you will find answers to the key questions about the document and see the priorities of the first three stages of reforms. The full text of the roadmap is available at the link. Proposals, comments, and remarks are accepted through @AskOffice_Bot in Telegram or via email at askoffice@tsikhanouskaya.org.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, commented on the recent statements by the minister of education of Belarus regarding compulsory job placement for college and university graduates, in which the latter do not have a say. Ms. Shchyttsova emphasized that Belarus needs decent reforms both in economic management and education and disputed the need for increased admission to military university programs.
EXPERT DISCUSSIONS. On February 28, the Research Center of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Warwick Ukraine-Belarus Hub hosted a webinar to discuss the prospects of democratic voting in Ukraine, where there is no peace, as well as in Belarus, where there is no democracy. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Special Advisor on Elections, Alexander Shlyk, participated in the webinar.
CONVERSATIONS WITH BELARUSIANS. This week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her Advisor on Legal Affairs, Kristina Rikhter, held weekly talks with Belarusians to discuss the issues they face both in Belarus and abroad.
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to AP (1, 2, 3, 4) (International), Reuters (International), Repubblica (Italy), CBC (Canada), Die Presse (Austria), Kyiv Post (Ukraine), La Presse ( Italy), BelSAT (Belarus), Tagesanzeiger (Switzerland), Tdg (Switzerland), Blick (Switzerland), RTE (Ireland), and Channel4 (the UK).
