GERMANY RESUMED HUMANITARIAN VISA ISSUANCE FOR BELARUSIANS
In July, Germany suspended the issuance of humanitarian visas. The democratic forces of Belarus and the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya immediately responded and contacted German partners at all levels to advocate for resumed issuance. This week, it was announced that new applications are accepted. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, released a statement: “We thank the German Foreign Office and members of the Bundestag and the European Parliament who stayed in close contact with us in recent days. This is an important step that will open the path to safety for thousands of our compatriots forced to flee their homeland because of repression”.
APPEAL TO EUROPEAN LEADERS AHEAD OF THE WASHINGTON SUMMIT
Ahead of the summit between Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, and European leaders in Washington, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya sent letters to Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She outlined her position on Belarus and conveyed words of support for Ukraine.
RESPONSE TO LUKASHENKA’S MEETING WITH IRAN’S PRESIDENT
On August 20, Aliaksandr Lukashenka met with the President of Iran and declared readiness for cooperation “on any issue”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya noted that this path leads Belarus into a trap, stressing that the country must remain open and safe – without war, nuclear weapons, and isolation.
RESPONSE TO LUKASHENKA’S STATEMENT ON POLITICAL PRISONERS
Aliaksandr Lukashenka yet again commented on the possible release of political prisoners, calling them “bandits and terrorists” and claiming that society would not accept their release unless they left Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya responded: “Behind bars are ordinary Belarusians – doctors, teachers, students, pensioners, people with disabilities. Forced deportation from the country is a continuation of political terror. The regime must end repression entirely, not simply replace one form of pressure with another”.
UKRAINE’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated Ukraine on its Independence Day: “We share the same enemy with Ukraine. Russian imperialism has brought war to your land and made Belarus a hostage against the will of its people. I wish you strength to endure and defend your freedom”. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Constitutional Reform and Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, took part in the Independence Day celebrations in Vilnius.
BLACKMAIL WITH EXPIRED PASSPORTS
Belarusians in exile have received letters notifying them that their passports have been declared invalid and requiring them to renew the document, which is only possible in Belarus. Failure to comply may result in a fine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, pointed out that this is yet another form of repression against those in exile.
UN EXPERTS’ APPEAL TO BELARUS
UN experts called on Belarus to stop the ill-treatment and torture of prisoners convicted of terrorism and extremism charges. Leanid Marozau emphasized that the Lukashenka regime must ensure medical assistance and compliance with basic standards of treatment, and that terrorism and extremism charges cannot serve as justification for repression.
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS’ APPEAL TO THE UN COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
Leanid Marozau joined the initiative of human rights defenders who submitted an appeal to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. We invite our international partners, the democratic community, and human rights defenders to publicly support this initiative by filling out the form in Russian or in English.
REAL LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN BELARUS
According to Belstat, unemployment in Belarus remains at a low level. At first glance, this looks like a success. But in practice, it is a worrying signal. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office explained why the statistics do not reflect the real situation in the labor market.
CHANGES IN SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA’S OFFICE
Aleś Alachnovič concluded his work as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms for personal reasons. The economic direction will continue to develop under the leadership of Alisa Ryzhychenka, the new Representative for Economy and Finance of the United Transitional Cabinet.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to The New York Times (International), Gazeta Prawna (Poland), and BBC TV.
