Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office has no mandate from anyone to act on behalf of all citizens of Belarus. It was never elected and was formed in Vilnius mainly of people who did not take part in the events of 2020. Nevertheless, since 2020 Western governments and international institutions have treated it and the structures created around it as the main representatives of the people of Belarus. Since 2020, more than €450 million has been allocated to support civil society in Belarus by the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway and other countries.
Over six years, the Office’s high-profile initiatives have produced no results.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya did not work even on her husband’s release. At the end of October 2026, Siarhei Tsikhanouski himself stated this: according to him, three US administration officials confirmed to him that she had done no personal work towards his release.
You can find our assessment of the situation, as well as our recommendations and proposals, in the attached document, prepared by The Forum of Democratic Forces of Belarus.
