FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN BELARUS
On Friday, August 9, rallies were held in different countries to honor the fourth anniversary of protests in Belarus. On this day, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for strengthening the Belarusian community abroad and supporting each other in the fight for democratic change. Later, the national leader of Belarus thanked everyone who participated in the solidarity rallies: “It is so precious that we joined our voices to speak for our political prisoners and Belarusians inside the country who can’t speak for themselves”.
More than 20 countries supported the Belarusian people on the fourth anniversary of the election. The USA, UK, Canada, and the European Union issued a joint statement in support of political prisoners and against repression. The EU announced its support for civil society and independent media for the coming year. Poland pledged to support Belarusians in Poland. The UK allocated 3 million euros to help human rights defenders, the repressed, and NGOs and imposed sanctions against the administrations of prisons where political prisoners are kept.
TATIANA SHCHYTTSOVA ON NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR SCIENTISTS
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, commented on Lukashenka’s demand for scientists to unconditionally support official policy, which makes loyalty to the regime the primary requirement for the academia. She emphasized that the interests of the regime and the country do not always coincide, drawing attention to the crisis in Belarusian science caused by repression against independent scientists.
SAFE AND UNSAFE COUNTRIES FOR BELARUSIANS
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office prepared a list of countries to avoid during travel for those who are or might be persecuted by the regime. View the list at the link.
EXCLUSION OF BNR FROM LIST OF BELARUSIAN STATEHOOD FORMS
Tatiana Shchyttsova commented on the decision by the Belarusian Ministry of Education to exclude the Belarusian Democratic Republic from the list of statehood forms, noting that this is aimed at distorting national history and suppressing the values of democracy and independence.
WOMEN+MEDIA CONFERENCE 2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined the Women+Media Conference 2024 focusing on gender sensitivity in the media, and awarded diplomas to the laureates for their contribution to the media sector and female leadership.
ART THERAPY FOR FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
The Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in Prague has organized art therapy sessions for former political prisoners and their families to help them adapt after imprisonment and overcome mental health struggles. The initiative includes camps for children and adults, where participants engage in creative activities to restore inner strength and psychological well-being.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to Index on Censorship (UK), Politico (USA), Le Figaro and Liberation (France), Kyiv Post (Ukraine). The Lithuanian LRT expressed support for the Belarusian society and the democratic forces of Belarus on the fourth anniversary of the 2020 elections.
