VISIT TO THE NETHERLANDS
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paid a working visit to the Netherlands, meeting with ambassadors from more than twenty EU countries and with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, David van Weel. She also took part in the Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES), where she shared the experience of Belarus in the struggle for democracy, and delivered a lecture organized by Raam op Rusland.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya met with the Belarusian diaspora in Amsterdam.
VISIT TO LUXEMBOURG
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Luxembourg at the invitation of Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, where she participated in the meeting of EU foreign ministers. The visit aimed to secure greater support for democratic Belarus and urge Europe to demand free elections, the release of political prisoners, and an end to the regime’s involvement in the war against Ukraine.
MEETINGS ON THE LEGAL STAY OF BELARUSIANS IN POLAND
On October 10 and 13, two meetings took place in Warsaw to discuss the legal stay and status of Belarusian citizens in Poland. The Belarusian side was represented by the United Transitional Cabinet, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, and the Coordination Council, among others. The Polish side included representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office for Foreigners.
The parties discussed international protection (asylum) procedures, Polish travel documents issuance, recognition and issuance of certain legal papers, and cases of persecution of Belarusians via Interpol. The Polish side confirmed its readiness for cooperation and continued joint work to find long-term legal and humanitarian solutions.
MOTHER’S DAY ADDRESS
October 14 is Mother’s Day in Belarus. On this occasion, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated all mothers: “From the bottom of my heart, I wish every mother in Belarus and beyond to embrace her children soon again – for those hugs to be as long as the waiting and as warm as a mother’s love. May every home once again echo with laughter, and may Belarus feel like one big family united by love”.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Every October, people around the world speak about the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. In a video message, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for timely medical checkups and highlighted the problems within the country’s healthcare system.
OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION CONFERENCE
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, took part in a discussion on the human rights situation in Belarus, held as part of the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. Participants noted that repression in the country continues and that recommendations from international organizations remain unanswered. They emphasized the need to strengthen international pressure on the regime and support for political prisoners.
STATEMENT ON THE CLOSURE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN BELARUS
Over the past 25 years, almost two thousand secondary schools have been closed in Belarus. The number of students has decreased by nearly half a million. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Science and Education, Pavel Tserashkovich, commented on the situation: “Under the guise of optimization, social programs are actually being dismantled. The reduction in schools closely resembles the reduction of the medical facility network. In both cases, physical access to these services becomes more difficult”.
MEDIA
AFP (UK), The Washington Post (International), The Kyiv Independent (Ukraine), Mediapart (France), IE Insights (International).
