VISIT TO POLAND
On June 26, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski made their first joint visit to Warsaw. They held meetings:
- with President Andrzej Duda, discussing further steps to support the Belarusian democratic movement and Belarusians who have found refuge in Poland;
- with Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who became Siarhei’s symbolic “godfather” during his imprisonment. The conversation focused on coordinated actions between Polish institutions and Belarus’ democratic forces, as well as continued support for Belarusians in exile.
The first public solidarity rally since Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s release took place in Warsaw, with more than 700 Belarusians joining the event.
NATO SUMMIT
During the NATO Summit, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a number of high-level meetings, including with the NATO Secretary General, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, and members of the United States Senate. Discussions centered on regional security threats linked to the situation in Belarus and ways the international community can support Belarus’ democracy.
At the side event “Zapad 2025 and Beyond: Understanding the Eastern Threat and NATO’s Response”, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya presented the Red Paper, which outlines key facts and recommendations on Belarus for the international community. It stresses that Belarus is a country with a strong people and democratic aspirations, and can become a force for peace in the region.
The event was co-organized by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Belarus and the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS).
Read the Red Paper.
View photos on Flickr.
RALLY IN VILNIUS
On June 28, a solidarity rally in support of political prisoners in Belarus took place in Vilnius, with the participation of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski. The event was organized by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the Belarusian diaspora in Vilnius.
CONFERENCE IN LONDON
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, and Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, took part in the Warwick Ukraine-Belarus Hub’s “Ukraine, Belarus and the Complex Geopolitics of Europe” Conference held in London at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on June 26. Mr. Viacorka spoke at the opening session and participated in a panel on regional security. Leanid Marozau took part in discussions on legal tools and sanction mechanisms related to European security and the future of democratic Belarus.
THREE YEARS SINCE THE CAPTURE OF BELARUSIAN VOLUNTEER FIGHTERS
June 26 marked three years since the capture of Belarusian volunteer fighters Yan Dziurbeika and Siarhei Dziohtsieu. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the international community to continue efforts for their release and support all Belarusians who are defending freedom.
SIARHEI TSIKHANOUSKI’S STATEMENT AT THE UN
In a video address to the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Siarhei Tsikhanouski described the torture and inhumane treatment he endured during his imprisonment. He appealed to Secretary-General António Guterres to urgently intervene and use all available international mechanisms to help release political prisoners who remain behind bars simply for their beliefs.
MEDIA
This week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews and comments to the following media outlets: AP, CNN, France24 (also available on YouTube), TT (Sweden, second link), NPR (USA), NRC (Netherlands), Hufvudstadsbladet (Finland), Zerkalo (Belarus), and Trouw (Netherlands).
Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s interviews and comments appeared in: AP, Zerkalo, Euroradio (Belarus), ARD1 (Germany, also available on YouTube), DW (Germany), TVN24+ENEX Network (Poland, also available on YouTube), and Delfi (Lithuania).
