MEETING WITH THE NEW SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS OF LITHUANIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the new Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania, Juozas Olekas. Until recently, Juozas Olekas headed the Seimas group “For a Democratic Belarus”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Speaker Olekas for his principled stance and steadfast support of democratic Belarus from the Lithuanian Seimas.
POLITICAL PRISONERS’ PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE LITHUANIAN SEIMAS
A press conference was held in the Seimas of Lithuania with the participation of recently released political prisoners Dzmitry Kuchuk, Mikalai Dziadok, and Larysa Shchyrakova. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation and Constitutional Reform, Anatoli Liabedzka, also attended the event, as well as the Speaker of the Seimas, Juozas Olekas, and MPs Ruslanas Baranovas and Tomas Tomilinas of the “For a Democratic Belarus” group.
STATEMENT ON THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
On September 16, 25 prisoners were released in Belarus, some of whom had been convicted on politically motivated charges. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya released a statement: “This is an important humanitarian step that must continue. All political prisoners must be freed and rehabilitated, and repression must stop”.
NEW ADVISOR ON EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Dr. Pavel Tereshkovich, a historian and anthropologist, joined Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office as the new Advisor on Education and Science. Dr. Tereshkovich had worked in education for many years, teaching at the Belarusian State University, serving as Dean and Chair of the Senate at the European Humanities University, completing research fellowships in New York and Oxford, and authoring over a hundred academic publications.
ANNIVERSARY OF BELARUS’ OFFICIAL NAME AND SYMBOLS ADOPTION
On September 19, 1991, the Supreme Council of Belarus approved the Republic of Belarus as the official name of the Belarusian state, along with the white-red-white flag and the Pahonia coat of arms as its symbols. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on this occasion: “34 years ago, what had long lived in the hearts of Belarusians was finally affirmed – we have our country, our name, and our symbols. And as long as Belarusians hold on to their symbols and their dignity, the country lives. I believe that September 19 will be celebrated in the new Belarus, one without banned flags, a country where the people themselves determine their path”.
60TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
On September 19, within the framework of the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, an interactive dialogue took place with Karinna Moskalenko, a member of the Group of Independent Experts on Belarus, as well as a side event “Give a Voice to the Victims: Human Rights Violations in Belarus”, organized by the Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the UN. Both events highlighted the human rights situation in Belarus. Speakers noted that despite recent releases, repression continues, with daily arrests and repeated detentions forcing many Belarusians to seek refuge abroad.
COMMENT ON MIKALAI STATKEVICH’S SITUATION
On September 11, 52 political prisoners were pardoned in Belarus and forcibly expelled to Lithuania. Among them was politician Mikalai Statkevich, sentenced to 14 years in prison. However, he refused to leave the country and spent several hours at the border, from where he was taken by unknown masked individuals in an unknown direction. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, commented on the situation, noting that under the law, a pardon cannot be revoked and cannot be conditional on deportation. He emphasized that the possible return of Statkevich to prison and the forced deportation of other political prisoners are crimes against humanity and grossly contradict the Constitution and Belarus’ international obligations.
NEW UN REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN BELARUS
The UN Group of Independent Experts published a report stating that human rights violations in Belarus are systematic and part of the state policy of suppressing dissent. The report confirms that both the security forces and senior regime leaders, including Lukashenka, may be held accountable, while victims have the right to truth and compensation for harm.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s interviews and comments were released by BBC News (International), Current Time (International), Radyio Svaboda (1, 2) (Belarus), Belsat (Belarus), BNS (1, 2) (Lithuania), ELTA (1, 2) (Lithuania), and 15min (1, 2) (Lithuania).
