ANNIVERSARY OF SIARHEI TSIKHANOUSKI’S ARREST
May 29 marked five years since Siarhei Tsikhanouski was arrested. In her address, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya shared personal reflections about her husband and their journey, calling on Belarusians to remember the people imprisoned for speaking the truth.
She also thanked Belarusians and the international community for their continued support, stressing that solidarity gives strength and confidence that the situation will eventually change.
LUSTRATION CONCEPT
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office presented the Lustration Concept for Belarus — a policy paper that outlines a possible lustration model taking into account the specific Belarusian context, including the scale of repression, the lack of independent justice, the weakness of state institutions, and the risk of authoritarian backlash. Public discussion of the concept is underway.
CHARLEMAGNE PRIZE
On May 29, the annual Charlemagne Prize was awarded in Aachen. This prestigious award honors significant contributions to European unity. This year’s laureate was Ursula von der Leyen. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya personally congratulated the President of the European Commission, who has consistently supported Belarus and maintained a firm stance against authoritarian regimes.
In 2022, the prize was awarded to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maryia Kalesnikava, and Veranika Tsapkala for the Belarusian society’s struggle for democracy, dignity, and European values.
WOMEN’S POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
During her visit to Warsaw, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the participants of the Women’s Political Leadership Academy, an educational program for women seeking to take an active role in Belarusian politics. It served as a platform for developing leadership skills, defining political goals, fostering peer networks, and preparing Belarusian women from across the globe for future political engagement.
The Academy was jointly organized by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic with support from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The venue was provided by Imaguru Startup HUB.
VISIT TO MADRID
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, and Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, visited Madrid to hold a series of meetings with government, parliamentary, and analytical circles of the Kingdom of Spain. Key topics of discussion included support for political prisoners and their families, visa access for Belarusians, cooperation with the Spanish Parliament, and migration challenges faced by the Belarusian diaspora.
NEW BELARUS CONFERENCE
As in previous years, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office will host the New Belarus Conference in early August — the largest platform for strategic dialogue, discussion of Belarus’ future, and coordination among the democratic forces and civil society. A form was launched for submitting topics and ideas to help shape the agenda.
UNITED NATIONS REPORT
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Nils Muižnieks, published his first report, providing a systemic analysis that confirms the ongoing civil and political rights crisis in Belarus and documents its deterioration.
PASHPART.ORG
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, and the People’s Embassies relaunched the Pashpart.org platform, updating its sections on migration-related issues and overhauling its backend to make it faster and more stable.
Pashpart.org is an online resource created for Belarusians in exile who are unable to renew or obtain a new passport after the regime’s suspension of consular services in diplomatic missions abroad.
TRAGEDY IN YELSK
A 14-year-old girl died in Yelsk after delayed medical assistance. Instead of launching an open investigation, the authorities targeted the family with intimidation and attempts to discredit the child’s memory. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “This horrifying story highlights the systemic issues in Belarus’ healthcare system. Patients increasingly face a shortage of specialists, medications, and equipment — and when the irreversible happens, there is no accountability”.
NEW BELARUSIAN PASSPORT
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, spoke in a major interview with Zerkalo about the New Belarusian Passport, addressing the most frequently asked questions.
PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS
This week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held personal conversations with Belarusians around the world, joined by her Legal Advisor Leanid Marozau. These personal conversations are a safe way to connect with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, open to all.
MEDIA
This week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews to Current Time (International), Decoder (Germany), PAP (Poland), RMF (Poland), Wiadomości WP (Poland), MSN (Poland), Polskie Radio (Poland), Belsat (Belarus), Radyio Svaboda (Belarus), and Belsat YouTube (Belarus).
