VISIT TO CROATIA
On July 11–12, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paid a working visit to Croatia to take part in the Dubrovnik Forum. The visit included meetings with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to discuss support for Belarus’ democratic forces and the EU’s policy vis-a-vis Belarus, as well as with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to discuss the situation of political prisoners and solidarity with Belarusians. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also held several other bilateral meetings.
MEETING WITH AMBASSADORS
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski held a closed-door briefing in Vilnius with ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from over 20 countries. The briefing focused on political prisoners in Belarus, ways to assist them, and mechanisms for their release. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked the Trump administration and the European Union for securing her husband’s release.
MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR OF LITHUANIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held talks with the Minister of the Interior of Lithuania, Vladislavas Kondratovičius. The Director of the Migration Department, Evelina Gudzinskaitė, and the country’s Ambassador-at-Large for Belarus, Asta Andrijauskienė, also attended the meeting. The parties discussed support for Belarusians in Lithuania and their safety, simpler procedures for legal documents, and open border crossings.
MEETINGS WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF LITHUANIA AND GERMANY
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski joined an official reception on the occasion of Lithuania’s Statehood Day. During the event, they met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
NEW BELARUS CONFERENCE
On August 9–10, the New Belarus Conference 2025 will take place in Warsaw. See the program at the link. Registration for participants is now underway, as well as accreditation for journalists.
TUTAKA FESTIVAL
On July 10–13, the fifth TUTAKA Festival took place in Podlasie, Poland, gathering over 5,000 people. The event was held under the patronage of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Polish President Andrzej Duda. The program included workshops, discussions, creative sessions, and collective reflection on the future of Belarus. While Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was unable to attend due to a working visit, Siarhei Tsikhanouski delivered a welcome address: “Everyone gathered here today is the future of our Belarus. Let’s do everything each day so that Tutaka someday comes there too!”
TWO YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF ALES PUSHKIN
July 11 marked two years since Belarus lost Ales Pushkin, who was tortured to death in prison. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians: “We remember you, Ales. Your legacy lives on in your works, your paintings, and performances. And we continue to fight for the release of all political prisoners, for the return of Belarusians to their homeland, for a Belarus free of repression and fear – for the country you dreamed of, and for which you were killed”.
RESPONSE TO THE LIQUIDATION OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
New harsh laws on religion have come into effect in Belarus, resulting in the closure of churches and the arrest of clergy and believers. These measures aim to increase state control over religious organizations and restrict their activities. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The regime understands that in the eyes of believers, God is always above power. And Lukashenka doesn’t like that”.
MEDIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave interviews this week to Repubblica (Italy), DIE ZEIT (Germany), France24 (France), FOGLIO (Italy), APA (report 2, report 3, Austria), POLITICO (International), TELEGRAM (report 2, Croatia), and Belsat (Belarus).
Siarhei Tsikhanouski was interviewed by zhyttsio-malina (Беларусь), Radyio Svaboda (in English), Delfi (Lithuania, the Baltics), RFI (France), Hufvudstadsbladet (Finland), and Наша Ніва (Belarus).
