Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office was in close cooperation with the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, diaspora organizations, independent initiatives, and political parties to implement a number of campaigns and projects aimed at protecting the interests of Belarusians, increasing pressure on the regime, preparing for a democratic transition, and supporting the repressed.
- Preparing for democratic transition
The project of the New Belarus Transition Strategy and four draft laws to complement and develop the draft Constitution of New Belarus were developed: On the Constitutional Court, On Political Parties, Charter of the Soim, and On the President. The Roadmap for the Democratization of Higher Education in Belarus was released, proposing steps to reform education that could be taken in the first 50, 100, and 500 days of the transition period.
The draft Concept of Restitution for Victims of the Regime of A. Lukashenka was developed and submitted for public discussion, which aims to provide redress for affected persons and prevent the repetition of serious violations of human rights.
- Consolidating democratic forces
The democratic forces agreed on their common positions on the key fields of activities. At the New Belarus Conference 2023, which took place in August in Warsaw, the democratic forces adopted four joint declarations:
1) Declaration of Future Membership of Belarus in the European Union;
2) Declaration by the Democratic Forces of Belarus on Solidarity with the People of Ukraine;
3) Political Declaration by the Democratic Forces of Belarus;
4) Statement on the 2024 Elections.
The Second Conference of the Belarusian Diaspora was held, bringing together diaspora communities from almost 30 countries. The ”Jadnajsia!” event in Warsaw brought together more than 20 Belarusian civil organizations and initiatives. Dozens of meetings were held with the Belarusian diaspora around the world, as well as dozens of online meetings with Belarusians inside the country.
The Way to Freedom Conference and the Belarus-Ukraine Astrozhski Forum took place in Kyiv. A hearing on the release of political prisoners was held jointly with the Coordination Council.
- Reacting to threats to the sovereignty of Belarus
One of the declarations adopted by the democratic forces during the New Belarus Conference 2023 was in defense of the independence of Belarus. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Vancouver Declaration, which acknowledges the “soft annexation” of Belarus by Russia. Several American, European, and Ukrainian political figures made statements in support of the independence of Belarus following consultations with Belarus’ democratic forces.
- Protecting the interests of Belarusians and preventing discrimination
The Lithuanian Seimas rejected the amendments that could synchronize the restrictions against Belarusians and Russians. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the hearing in the Seimas on the situation with Belarusians in Lithuania, as well as held meetings with the President of Lithuania, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Seimas, and its members.
After the campaign organized by the democratic forces and representatives of the Belarusian diaspora, Latvia abstained from restrictions against cars with Belarusian license plates. In Estonia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Sweden, the admission of Belarusian students to study was partially resumed. A large part of the efforts was done by the Belarusian diaspora.
Some visa centers and consulates in Belarus, which stopped or reduced the issuance of visas, resumed their work.
- Campaigning for a European perspective
The democratic forces made a joint statement in support of the European perspective for Belarus. This statement was supported by several European politicians. EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, made a statement about Belarus’ European future.
- Strengthening the international standing of the democratic forces of Belarus
2023 saw the launch of the Belarus–USA Strategic Dialogue and the establishment of the Consultative Group with the European Union. In addition, the Cross-Party Forum “8+100” was held, in which 8 Belarusian and 100 European political parties participated.
This year Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the Summit of the Council of Europe in Reykjavík for the first time. Preparations began for Belarus to join the organization after the democratic transition.
The Belarusian leader took part in the Summit of the European Political Community in Granada and the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the final resolution of which mentions Belarus. For the second year in a row, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the UN General Assembly, during which several countries made statements in support of democratic changes in Belarus. The Alliance of parliamentary groups “For a Democratic Belarus” was formed, which promotes the issue of Belarus in different countries. The number of such groups increased from 13 to 23 in 2023. The first Estonia-Belarus Conference was held in partnership with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made 48 foreign visits. She met with the US President, Joe Biden, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the Czech President, Petr Pavel, and hundreds of other politicians. As a result of the meetings, the legal procedures for Belarusians abroad were simplified, aid was allocated to civil society and the repressed, and initiatives were launched to hold the regime accountable.
- Attracting new allies and partners
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paid an official visit to Moldova, met with representatives of Latin American and African countries, and spoke with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Senior Advisor, Franak Viacorka, visited Australia and held meetings with government representatives.
- Developing new Belarusian passport
The democratic forces began the development of the new Belarusian passport. The design of the passport was developed in cooperation with the Heraldic Council. A legal entity was established, and materials for the samples were ordered. Consultations with foreign governments on the status of the passport and its recognition began.
- Facilitating legalization of stay for Belarusians abroad
With the help of the Belarusian diaspora, working groups involving government representatives were created in Poland and Lithuania on issues of the legalization of stay for Belarusians. The democratic forces sent the governments of partner countries a document with a set of proposals on resolving issues of the legalization of stay, which calls for issuing alien passports, visas, residence permits, and documents for children, as well as not requiring apostilles.
The Seimas of Lithuania supported the extension of the validity of humanitarian residence permits from one to three years. Germany sent instructions to the relevant government departments to simplify the legalization of stay for Belarusians.
With the participation of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the United Transitional Cabinet, and the Coordination Council, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe developed and adopted the Resolution on Addressing the Specific Challenges Faced by Belarusians in Exile, which contains a list of recommendations to the member states of the Council of Europe. Also, the European Parliament and the Bundestag called for simplifying the legalization of stay for Belarusians.
- Expressing solidarity with political prisoners
Three international days of solidarity with Belarus and Belarusian political prisoners were held – on May 21, August 9, and November 12.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office participated in the Solidarity Marathon organized by Belarusian independent media and democratic forces. As part of the marathon, more than half a million euros of aid was raised.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the release of political prisoners as well as an end to their incommunicado detention. More than 100 members of parliaments in 2023 became godfathers of political prisoners.
With the support of the democratic forces, about 20 events and exhibitions dedicated to Belarusian political prisoners were held. Germany supported a rehabilitation program for political prisoners who have been released from prisons.
- Responding to political repression on the international level
The OSCE Moscow Mechanism was re-invoked to address the systemic violations of human rights in Belarus, as well as repression against civil society and journalists.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the first time recognized the crimes against humanity committed by the Lukashenka regime. This was the result of the work of Belarusian human rights defenders and organizations of the democratic forces.
- Warming relations with Ukraine
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appointed Henadzi Manko as the Head of the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Kyiv. Representatives and advisors of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a series of meetings with the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak, and representatives of the Verkhovna Rada.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had an informal meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during the Charlemagne Award Ceremony.
- Supporting Belarusian volunteers in Ukraine
Thanks to the efforts of the democratic forces, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a bill that expands the rights of Belarusian volunteers in Ukraine.
The democratic forces delivered several packages of non-lethal aid to Belarusian volunteer fighters, totaling several hundred thousand euros, including new vehicles (in cooperation with the German Federal Foreign Office).
Franak Viacorka and Pavel Latushka visited the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment in Kyiv.
- Maintaining sanctions against the regime for repression and complicity in the war
The USA, the UK, Canada, and the European Union adopted several packages of sanctions against the Belarusian military industry, judges, oligarchs, and officials, including those involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children. With the help of the democratic forces and Belarusian investigators (BelPOL, Belarusian Investigative Center), a number of loopholes were closed, preventing further circumvention of sanctions.
Despite the regime’s lobbying, sanctions against Belarusian potash fertilizers were not lifted.
- Supporting civil society and independent media
In 2023, the USA, the EU, its member states, and other countries provided material support that allowed hundreds of civil society organizations, journalists, cultural figures, human rights defenders, the educational sector, and the business community to continue their work.
In cooperation with partners, the democratic forces developed a three-year civil society needs assessment document, which will help make aid more stable and effective.
- Supporting Belarusian youth
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appointed Marharyta Vorykhava as her Advisor on Youth Policy. Ms. Vorykhava had previously joined the Contact Group at the Council of Europe and the Consultative Group with the European Union. The European Youth Forum in Brussels adopted a motion in support of young political prisoners, signed by the RADA Belarusian National Youth Council and co-signed by youth organizations from other countries.
With the involvement of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a support program for Belarusian youth has been implemented, aimed at creating opportunities for education, increasing professional diversity, and expanding the circle of professional cooperation.
18 issues of the Asveta digest covering educational opportunities for Belarusians were released. Scholarship programs for Belarusians were launched in several European Union universities, including in the Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, and Austria. The prestigious Management Center Innsbruck launched the Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Scholarship.
- Supporting volunteers
In 2023, 160 new people joined the volunteer program of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The democratic forces now have more than three thousand volunteers in total. They not only assist the work of democratic forces, but also get opportunities for education, internships, and expanding their knowledge.
- Supporting Belarusian identity and cultural projects
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, for the commemoration of the 1863 Uprising.
Events were held on the occasion of March 25 (Freedom Day), September 8 (Day of Military Glory), and August 25 (Day of Restoration of Independence). The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya co-organized the Black Night (Night of Executed Poets) event in Vilnius, commemorating repressed Belarusian cultural figures.
The European Union allocated funds to support Belarusian culture. Sweden, Ireland, Poland, Norway, and other partners supported individual projects to strengthen the Belarusian identity.
- Expanding cooperation with tech companies and businesses
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held consultations with vice-presidents and representatives of Google, Microsoft, and YouTube to discuss the free provision of software for NGOs and journalists, conducting training, localization of products into the Belarusian language, as well as blocking of propaganda content.
The Belarusian leader participated in the International Economic Forum in Davos, where a discussion dedicated to Belarus took place for the first time. She also took part in Microsoft events during the UN General Assembly in New York, and for the first time spoke at Web Summit in Portugal, one of the largest tech conferences in Europe.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her representatives participated in ABBA, Imaguru, and BEROC events. Together with representatives of the Belarusian IT sector, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with the Portuguese government. The Belarusian leader spoke about support for Belarusian businesses and future economic reforms at meetings with the presidents of the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and representatives of the International Monetary Fund.
- Raising awareness about Belarus through international media
In 2023, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave 370 interviews and comments to both Belarusian and international media, including CNN, BBC, Euronews, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, and Associated Press. The Belarusian leader wrote op-eds for 35 publications, including POLITICO, Euronews, Washington Post, Guardian, Le Monde, and others.
Two op-eds were published in co-authorship with the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Šimonytė, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
