VISIT TO ALBANIA
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the 6th European Political Community Summit in Tirana – one of the key political platforms in Europe, where leaders from 46 countries and major international organizations gathered to address common challenges. She held a series of meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and others.
VISIT TO LUXEMBOURG
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Luxembourg to take part in the Council of Europe’s Ministerial Session, which announced a tribunal for Russia’s crimes against Ukraine. She held several bilateral meetings, including with the PACE President, Theodoros Rousopoulos, the Swiss State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Alexandre Fasel, and the new German State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Gunther Krichbaum.
As a result of the visit, Luxembourg joined the International Humanitarian Fund and allocated €250,000 for the treatment and rehabilitation of political prisoners and the repressed.
DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS
May 21 will mark the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, commemorating the anniversary of political prisoner Vitold Ashurak’s death. A commemorative event was held in Vilnius, where Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a speech: “Vitold Ashurak believed that change would come soon – let us believe in it too and continue the fight. Because the easiest thing to do is give in to despair and give up. But we cannot afford such a ‘luxury’. And the more we do, the sooner change will come”.
VISIT TO POLAND
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the annual International Impact Conference in Poznań, Poland, which gathers thought leaders, politicians, and experts. She spoke on the second day of the conference during a panel discussion titled “Voice of Courage: Democracy, Leadership and the Power of Women”.
STATEMENT ON TAMARA KARAVAI’S DEATH
Former political prisoner Tamara Karavai, who was pardoned in August 2024, has passed away. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made a statement: “Releasing someone when their body has already been broken is not a pardon – it is the concealment of evidence of a killing. The Lukashenka regime shows no mercy – not to women, not to the ill, not to the elderly. I want to express my deepest condolences to Tamara’s loved ones – her son, her partner. This is a terrible tragedy that should never have happened”.
ROUNDTABLE ON GENDER EQUALITY
A roundtable was held at the Representation of Democratic Belarus in Estonia, dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality in future democratic Belarus. Participants discussed the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community and possible legislative reforms, drawing on Estonia’s experience. The meeting resulted in a joint commitment to create a roadmap for promoting gender equality in future Belarus and to continue cooperation.
COMMENT ON NEW EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS
The Lukashenka regime in Belarus has announced its plans to sign bilateral extradition agreements with nine more countries. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, commented on the news: “For Belarusians in exile, these developments represent a potential expansion of the list of countries that are no longer safe to travel to. We will certainly inform our international partners and relevant organizations about the potential risks of bilateral extradition agreements being used for politically motivated persecution”.
30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1995 REFERENDUM
In 1995, Belarus held a referendum that resulted in changing the national symbols, deepening economic integration with Russia, and granting Russian equal status with Belarusian as a state language. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians on this occasion: “Now, looking back, we can clearly see where that decision led us. An authoritarian regime. Dependence on Russia. A preserved Soviet-style economy. Unstable GDP growth. A weakened currency. Limited reforms. Repression. Crushed protests. Total state control over the media”.
INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY
On 13 May, as International Nurses Day was observed, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed members of the profession: “On this day, I want to express my deepest gratitude to you. The day will come when the whole country will thank you. The Belarus we strive for with all our hearts is a country that values the people who care for others”.
MEDIA
This week, the following media released Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s interviews and coverage of Belarus: PAP (Poland), Fakt (Poland), Glos Wielkopolski (Poland), The Baltic Times (International), Wysokie Obcasy (Poland), Radio Zet (Poland), The Dallas Morning News (United States), Bankier (Poland), LSM.lv (Latvia), Diena (Latvia), PAP (Poland), Stooq (Poland), and Radio Pin (Poland).
