VISIT TO NORWAY
On December 1, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paid a visit to Norway, where she held a number of meetings:
- with the Speaker of the Storting, Masud Gharahkhani;
- with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide;
- with the Minister of Development, Åsmund Aukrust.
She also took part in a public event of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, where she spoke about the current situation in Belarus.
As a result of the visit:
- a Parliamentary Group “For a Democratic Belarus” was launched in the Storting, which includes eight representatives from five political factions;
- Norway will allocate additional funds to support those affected by repression through the International Humanitarian Fund. This contribution will be in addition to Norway’s contribution of approximately 850,000 euros last year;
- Norway will continue its existing programs supporting civil society, independent media, and human rights defenders.
GRAND CONTINENT SUMMIT
On December 3, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the Grand Continent Summit, where she spoke during the panel discussion “How Democracy Thrives”.
The forum was organized by the French journal Le Grand Continent under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The 200 participants, among others, included France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot; Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares; Croatia’s Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković; and Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zurabishvili.
Alongside the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, and Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the strengthening of authoritarianism and what European countries can do to prevent the erosion of democracy on the eastern flank.
OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL MEETING
On December 4, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Vienna alongside more than 40 ministers from European, Asian, US, and Canadian delegations.
On the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Meeting, a side event titled “Preparing a Democratic Future for Belarus” took place, with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivering a speech. The event was organized by the member countries of the “For a Democratic Belarus” Alliance.
Alongside Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, participants included the Political Secretary of State of Finland, Pasi Rajala; the Head of the International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB), Andrea Huber; the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Audra Plepytė; and the Undersecretary for Global Affairs of the MFA of Estonia, Minna-Liina Lind.
VISIT TO INNSBRUCK
On December 5, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Innsbruck, Austria.
She spoke to students and faculty at the Management Center Innsbruck during the discussion “Europe in the World: What about Freedom & Democracy?” Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called on European states to invest in independent media, human rights, and cultural initiatives, as well as to expand educational programs and scholarships for Belarusian youth.
On December 6, she spoke at the European Media Summit, which gathered journalists, politicians, media executives, and experts from Central and Western Europe. In her speech, she emphasized the role of free media in resisting dictatorship and noted that Belarus is an example of how the destruction of independent voices paves the way for totalitarian power.
BONN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW
On December 7, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received the Bonn International Prize for Democracy and the Rule of Law for her contribution to the defense of democracy, the separation of powers, and the rule of law.
The ceremony was part of an annual program honoring individuals and organizations that courageously stand for human rights, legality, and democratic values. In her acceptance speech, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that the award belongs to all Belarusians who continue to fight for freedom, justice, and peace, and she called on attendees to support Ukraine and political prisoners in Belarus.
DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR’S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
From December 3 to 4, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski, visited Washington, where he met with:
- the Deputy National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, Andy Baker. They discussed the humanitarian releases of political prisoners in Belarus, the Ukraine negotiation process, and the continuation of the Strategic Dialogue between the United States and the democratic forces of Belarus;
- the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Eastern Europe, Christopher Smith. On behalf of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Mr. Kuchynski conveyed appreciation to President Trump for his tireless efforts in securing the release of 1300 hostages of the regime in Belarus.
STATISTICS ON POLITICAL REPRESSION IN BELARUS IN 2025
Dissidentby presented statistics on political persecution in Belarus from January 1 to December 1, 2025. These data show the real picture of what is happening in the country. Each year, the situation in Belarus worsens, and the past year is no exception: at least 1,267 people (including 349 women) faced criminal prosecution, of whom at least 438 were detained.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau: “The information presented is critically important. It allows an adequate assessment of what is happening and prevents the Lukashenka regime from misleading with statements about a ‘reduction in repression’”.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
On December 3, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities: “In Belarus, many people have needs that have remained invisible to the regime for years. People with disabilities do not require special privileges to live fully – they require only fair and accessible conditions: healthcare, education, the ability to move around, work, and participate in public life. Equal opportunities are not ‘special treatment’. The state must see every one of its citizens and create conditions in which people do not have to beg for basic things”.
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY
On December 5, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on International Volunteer Day: “You are people with big, warm hearts who never walk past someone else’s pain. Volunteers carry Belarus in their hands through quiet, daily, but powerful work. Your help is invaluable, and I believe that thanks to it, we are building a Belarus where no one will ever have to be afraid to help others”.
PROTEST AGAINST HYBRID ATTACKS BY THE REGIME
On December 7, a protest rally against hybrid attacks by the Belarus regime took place near the Embassy of Belarus in Vilnius, Lithuania. By holding the event, the Belarusian community demonstrated that it opposes the regime’s provocations and that the Belarusian people consistently treat other countries with respect, seeking to maintain good neighborly relations.
Hanna Krasulina, Stanislava Hlinnik, Marharyta Vorykhava, and Hanna Zlatkouskaya represented Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office at the event.
“FOR A DEMOCRATIC BELARUS” GROUP IN THE NEW MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT
On December 5, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Parliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, reported that the “For a Democratic Belarus” Group will operate in the newly elected Moldovan Parliament and outlined how future cooperation will proceed: “The Parliament of Moldova has officially ended its cooperation with Putin’s Duma and Lukashenka’s Chamber. We have the support of Speaker Grosu. And the MPs who were already part of the group are willing to continue this work”.
PRESENTATION OF THE POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR A NEW BELARUS
On December 8, the European Parliament in Brussels will hold a high-level conference, “Building Foundations for Democratic Change”, dedicated to the prospects and challenges of democratic reforms in Belarus. During the event, the Positive Alternative for a New Belarus will be presented.
MEDIA
Die Tageszeitung (Germany), Tiroler Tageszeitung (Austria), General-Anzeiger (Germany), Ukrinform (Ukraine).
