VISIT TO THE HAGUE
On January 12-13, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya conducted a working visit to The Hague, meeting with:
- Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dirk Schoof;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp;
- Speaker of the House of Representatives, Martin Bosma;
- NGOs at the Helsinki Committee office;
- experts from the Clingendael Institute;
- the Belarusian diaspora in the Netherlands.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, which shapes the country’s foreign policy. Discussions during the meetings focused on aid for independent media and civil society, efforts to hold the regime accountable, sanctions, and possible peace negotiations on Ukraine. The Netherlands joined the countries that will not recognize the upcoming sham election in Belarus.
Summary of the visit.
Photos of the visit.
MEETING WITH THE NEW LITHUANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Pavel Latushka met with the new Minister of Justice of Lithuania, Rimantas Mockus. The discussion focused on efforts to hold the Lukashenka regime accountable, including Lithuania’s referral of the regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and coordination with other countries on these efforts. The parties agreed to establish ongoing communication between the United Transitional Cabinet and the Ministry of Justice to address these priorities.
BELARUSIAN VOLUNTEER KILLED IN UKRAINE
Belarusian volunteer fighter Maryia Zaitsava was reported to have been killed in Ukraine on January 17. During the 2020 protests in Belarus, she was injured by a stun grenade and underwent long-term treatment in Belarus and later in the Czech Republic. Maryia joined the defenders of Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “My deepest condolences to her family and friends. I will never tire of repeating that those who started and continue this war must be brought to justice”.
CONVERSATION WITH THE US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
On January 16, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a phone call with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell. The discussion focused on the latest updates about political prisoners in Belarus and possible steps to facilitate their release.
NEW BELARUSIAN PASSPORT
On January 26, during the forum “Belarusians Deserve Better“, the Belarus Passport Center will start accepting applications for the New Belarusian Passport. This initiative was launched in response to the regime’s refusal to issue or renew passports for Belarusians in exile. Passports will be issued based on EU residency permits and old Belarusian passports. Read more.
🔗 Official website of the New Belarusian Passport
COMMEMORATION OF THE 1863-1864 UPRISING PARTICIPANTS
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, alongside the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, the Prime Minister, Gintautas Paluckas, and the ambassadors of Poland and Ukraine, honored the memory of the 1863 Uprising participants. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The uprising against Russian oppression became a symbol of the shared fight of Belarusians, Poles, and Lithuanians. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, we find strength in solidarity and collective resistance”.
CROSS-PARTY FORUM “8+100” IN BRUSSELS
This week, the Second “8+100” Cross-Party Forum took place in Brussels, providing a platform for European political parties to engage on the Belarusian agenda.
Key topics discussed during the event included:
- The 2025 sham election: strategies and tactics of Belarus’ democratic forces and the international community.
- Ways to secure the release of and support political prisoners in Belarus.
- Challenges and opportunities for Belarusians in exile.
RESTRICTIONS AGAINST BELARUSIAN-REGISTERED VEHICLES
Lithuania indefinitely extended exemptions for Belarusian-registered vehicles. The new regulations allow Belarusians with visas or residence permits to enter the country using their cars. Entry is also allowed for EU citizens driving Belarusian-registered cars provided the vehicles are only for personal use.
2025 SHAM ELECTION
Repression has escalated ahead of the January 26 sham election. Many are being summoned to police stations, HR departments, and university dean’s offices. Preventive talks are being conducted at workplaces. Those interrogated by law enforcement are being coerced to sign documents pledging “not to violate the law”. Mobile network operators have been warned of a possible internet outage on January 26, the so-called election day.
The OSCE ODIHR declined the invitation to observe the so-called presidential election. Earlier, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office urged the ODIHR not to accept the regime’s belated and restrictive invitation, emphasizing that a free election is impossible in today’s situation and there is nothing to observe.
The OSCE, the United States, and several EU member states have already stated that the election cannot be recognized due to the lack of conditions for a democratic process. Belarus’ democratic forces are calling on the international community to reject the results, maintain pressure on the regime to free political prisoners, stop repression, and end the regime’s complicity in the war against Ukraine.
The democratic forces of Belarus are planning several events and campaigns to counter the sham election.
EVENTS DURING THE SHAM ELECTION
January 21–26: “Lukashenka to the Shredder” campaign. Symbolic rallies organized by the People’s Embassies will take place across Europe, including Slovenia, Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, Austria, Italy, the UK, and Montenegro.
January 21: Exhibition at the Free Belarus Museum in Warsaw, dedicated to Belarusian resistance culture.
January 23: Hearing in the Coordination Council on Lukashenka’s accountability for crimes, emphasizing his illegitimacy and status as an international criminal.
January 26:
- 12:00 – “Not My Choice” March in Warsaw. Organized by the Belarusian diaspora and democratic forces. Route: Plac Trzech Krzyży – Pomnik Kopernika – Plac Zamkowy.
- 14:00 – Forum “Belarusians Deserve Better”. A public discussion featuring media, diplomats, Belarusians, and international guests. Register to attend.
- 18:00 – “Freedom is Our Choice” Concerts. Concerts will take place in Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, and Gdańsk.
International meetings
January 20–24: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will raise the issue of the sham election during the World Economic Forum in Davos during high-level panel discussions and bilateral meetings.
January 22: The European Parliament will adopt a resolution on Belarus, the sham election, and support for Belarus’ democratic forces.
January 23–24: A resolution is expected to be adopted in the Polish Senate (TBC).
January 26, 20:00: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will join an informal meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels, hosted by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, to discuss Belarus and the election’s illegitimacy.
January 27: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will hold a press conference and several high-level bilateral meetings in Brussels.
January 27–31: PACE will adopt a resolution on Belarus and the sham election. The Coordination Council will officially participate in the Assembly’s work for the first time.
February 3–4: The Kosciuszko Forum will take place in Gdańsk, organized by Poland’s EU Council Presidency, with several foreign ministers participating.
RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
On January 18, 23 political prisoners were reportedly released. Since July 2024, a total of 247 political prisoners have been pardoned.
MEDIA
This week, interviews with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya were featured on PBS (the United States, text and video), Bar Laat (Dutch-TV, the Netherlands), De Volkskrant (the Netherlands), and ND (the Netherlands). The documentary “Siarhei Tsikhanouski: A Fighter for Freedom” was released by Current Time TV.
