EXPANSION OF PRESENCE IN POLAND
This week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began work in Warsaw, where Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office will soon open. Part of the team will relocate to Warsaw, in particular those who speak Polish and are well acquainted with the Polish context, including the Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, and the Senior Political Advisor, Alexander Dabravolski. Meetings with representatives of the Belarusian community are currently taking place, along with preparations of the physical office space for the start of operations.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We are expanding our activities to Warsaw, and I hope our presence here will strengthen coordination with Polish and international allies, as well as with the Belarusian community in Poland. Poland is currently home to the largest Belarusian community in exile. At the same time, we continue our work in Lithuania and with the Lithuanian government. We are grateful to the Polish and Lithuanian governments for their continued support of our movement and solidarity”.
MEETING WITH VIKTAR BABARYKA
On February 3, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Viktar Babaryka held an in-person meeting, their first since Mr. Babaryka’s release. After a private conversation, they discussed the current agenda, possible next steps for various actors within the democratic forces, a shared vision for the future of Belarus, as well as issues related to the overall strategy of action for the democratic forces.
COORDINATION COUNCIL HEARING
On February 7, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as the Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, took part in a public hearing of the Coordination Council in Warsaw. In a question-and-answer format, members of the Council’s factions and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the results of the democratic forces’ work and priorities for 2026–2027. The session was moderated by the Coordination Council Speaker, Artsiom Brukhan, and Vice Speaker, Lizaveta Prakopchyk.
Read the full text of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech or watch the recording of the hearing on YouTube.
VISIT TO A SHELTER FOR FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the “Prytuliai Mianie” shelter for former political prisoners in Warsaw. She met with its founder, former political prisoner, and co-founder of the “Prytuliai Mianie” Foundation, Hanna Fedaronak; toured the facility; familiarized herself with its space and conditions; and spoke with the residents. The meeting focused on the shelter’s most urgent needs and ways to support its continued operation. Former political prisoners shared their stories and described the conditions they endured while imprisoned. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s team delivered essential household items to the shelter.
MEETING WITH ALIAKSANDR FIADUTA
On February 6, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Aliaksandr Fiaduta in Warsaw. Aliaksandr Fiaduta is a Belarusian literary scholar, political scientist, and publicist who was convicted on politically motivated charges and spent several years in prison. He was released after a long time in prison on December 13, 2025, as a result of the United States’ diplomacy.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya and Mr. Fiaduta discussed the situation in Belarus – conditions in prisons, pressure and repression, as well as ways to support political prisoners and their families. They also discussed possible paths toward ending repression and securing the release of all political prisoners.
VISIT TO WASHINGTON
From February 3 to 6, the Diplomatic Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Dzianis Kuchynski, paid a working visit to Washington. He:
- spoke at a hearing in the Congress, calling for intensified efforts to secure the release of all political prisoners, to hold another round of the US Strategic Dialogue with the democratic forces of Belarus, and to continue systematic support for Belarusian democratic institutions. The full recording of the hearing is available on YouTube;
- visited the White House, where he met with the Special Assistant to President Donald Trump and Director for European Affairs, Charles McLoughlin, and with the Senior Advisor to Vice President J.D. Vance, Spiro Ballas;
- met with the EU Ambassador to the United States, Jovita Neliupšienė; the Ambassador of Lithuania, Gediminas Varvuolis; and the Ambassador of Norway and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anniken Huitfeldt.
The main focus of these meetings was the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, international pressure on the Lukashenka regime, support for democratic institutions, and coordinated actions by the United States and its allies.
MEETING WITH THE NATIONAL ANTI-CRISIS MANAGEMENT
On February 5, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with the team of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAU). The meeting took place at the NAU office in Warsaw and was attended by NAU Head Pavel Latushka and team members Artsiom Brukhan, Yuliya Harachaya, Artsiom Praskalovich, Iryna Khalopitsa, and others.
Several key areas of joint work were discussed, including:
- coordination between the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the National Anti-Crisis Management;
- cooperation on legal matters and holding regime representatives accountable under international criminal law, including in the context of the mechanisms of the International Criminal Court.
MEETINGS WITH EDITORS-IN-CHIEF OF BELARUSIAN MEDIA
On February 6, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Warsaw with the editors-in-chief of independent Belarusian media outlets to discuss the conditions independent journalism faces today.
She separately met with the Belsat team. They discussed the role of Belarusian media in today’s Belarus, the regime’s pressure on journalists, international support, and the challenges of working in exile.
MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF BELARUSIAN COMMUNITY SPACES
On February 4, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with representatives of Belarusian community spaces in Warsaw. Participants included Palina Brodzik (Free Belarus Center), Ales Zarembiuk (Belarusian House in Warsaw), Vlad Kobets (Belarusian Solidarity Center), Halina Kazimirouskaya (Fundacja Volny Chor, M. Ravenski Belarusian School of Arts in Warsaw), Natallia Zadziarkouskaya (Free Belarus Museum), and Ales Lapko (Belarusian Youth Hub).
The discussion focused on the current state of Belarusian initiatives in the Polish capital, as well as their needs, future plans, and ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination.
MEETING WITH THE SECRETARIAT OF THE UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
On February 3, a meeting took place in Kyiv between representatives of the democratic forces of Belarus and the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. From the Belarusian side, the meeting was attended by the Advisor on Legal Affairs to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leanid Marozau; the Representative for Social Policy of the United Transitional Cabinet, Volha Zazulinskaya; and the Head of the Democratic Belarus Mission in Ukraine, Sviatlana Shatsilina.
The parties discussed:
- the human rights situation in Belarus, with a particular focus on the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, including Ukrainian citizens;
- the situation of Belarusians persecuted for opposing the Lukashenka and Putin regimes following the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, as well as humanitarian and human rights–based approaches to such cases;
- the regime’s practice of forcibly expelling political prisoners outside Belarus in 2025, including through the territory of Ukraine, and possible coordination of actions should such practices continue.
MEMORIAL RALLY FOR THOSE KILLED IN UKRAINE
On February 2, a rally in memory of those killed in Ukraine was held in Vilnius, organized by the Dapamoga NGO. Belarusians took part in the event to honor the victims of Russian aggression and express solidarity with Ukraine.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, delivered a speech: “Putin has the same goals with regard to both Ukraine and Belarus – annexation and total control. In Ukraine, he pursues this through missiles and drones; in Belarus, through Lukashenka. We do not want to live in a Russian ‘communal apartment’. Our dream is to live in our own homes – Ukrainian and Belarusian – in a European neighborhood”.
A video address by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was also shown during the rally: “This cold winter is especially harsh for Ukraine. Homes lack heating, light, and electricity. Let our solidarity, even a little, warm people. And our donations will help them obtain the essentials. Dear Ukrainians, remember: Belarusians are on your side. Belarusians are not the regime”.
NEW OFFICE CONSULTANT
Henadz Korshunau will serve as a consultant to the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, with responsibility for analytical support, expert assessment, strategy development, and engagement with the expert community.
Mr. Korshunau is a Belarusian sociologist and analyst, former Director of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, former Senior Research Fellow at the Center for New Ideas, and founder of the Belarusian Sociological Group.
EXHIBITION ON 30 YEARS OF DICTATORSHIP
On February 2, an exhibition titled “30 Years of Dictatorship. 30 Posters with Outcomes” by Arthur Vakarov opened in the building of the Czech Parliament. The exhibition is dedicated to the human rights situation in Belarus and is being presented in the Czech Republic for the first time.
The exhibition was organized by the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic with the support of Hayato Okamura, a member of the “For a Democratic Belarus” Group in the Czech Parliament.
KASTUS KALINOUSKI’S BIRTHDAY
February 2 marked the birthday of Kastus Kalinouski. On this occasion, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education, Pavel Tereshkovich, reflected on Kalinouski’s role for contemporary Belarusians: “Why do Lukashenka’s propagandists writhe with hatred at the very mention of Kalinouski? The issue is fear. A deep, terrifying fear of those who are fighting for Ukrainian freedom and for ours in the Kalinouski Regiment. Of those who sacrifice their lives to restore the honor and dignity of Belarusians, sullied by accomplices to Kremlin crimes. Of those who fight for ‘their human and national right’. Of those who will sooner or later return to Belarus. For whom do you love? I love Belarus!”
TADEUSZ KOŚCIUSZKO’S BIRTHDAY
February 4 marked the birthday of Tadeusz Kościuszko. Pavel Tereshkovich shared several facts about Belarusians’ distinguished compatriot and his legacy: “The monument to Kościuszko installed in 2018 in his birthplace, Merachoushchyna near Kosava, was cast in Ukraine. It was there that the so-called ‘Leninfall’ took place – a mass dismantling of communist monuments – and bronze was significantly cheaper than in Belarus. We have over 400 monuments to Lenin. That amount of bronze would be enough for all the true heroes of Belarus”.
NEW EPISODE OF “AS IS”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, spoke in the “As Is” project about the key events of the past week.
POPULATION DECLINE IN MAJOR CITIES
Over the past 10 years, the population of all major cities in Belarus has declined, with the exception of five. Senior Political Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Alexander Dabravolski, commented on this statistic: “Behind every figure there is a specific family, a decision to leave, lost opportunities, and the feeling that there is no future at home. This situation is a direct result of excessive centralization and dependence on a single ‘partner’. When all money and decisions remain in Minsk, cities and regions are condemned to stagnation”.
DEMOCRATIC FORCES AT THE PACE SESSION
Representatives of the democratic forces of Belarus took part in a PACE session for the fifth time. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, answered the most important questions and explained how these international meetings translate into long-term, practical work.
MEDIA
Mikalai Khalezin’s show (Belarus), The Rest Is Politics: Leading (International), Belsat News (Belarus), Rzeczpospolita (Poland), Belsat (Belarus), Belsat (Belarus), Radyio Svaboda (Belarus), Radyio Ratsyja (Belarus), SRF (Switzerland), SRF (Switzerland).
