Opposition leader urges European diplomats to help Belarus’ media

February 3, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja met with diplomats from nine countries on in Vilnius on January 31 to discuss financial assistance to the Belarusian independent media amid the US freeze on foreign aid, her aide Franak Viačorka told Pozirk.
The freeze affected the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which, among other things, implements programs to support exiled journalists.
Diplomats from Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden as well as Anna Kozłowska-Słupek, first counsellor of the Polish embassy in Lithuania, attended the meeting.
Alaksandar Łukašenka and his officials are not ending politically-motivating persecution of Belarusians despite the expectations of some pundits, Cichanoŭskaja noted.
The politician also thanked the Nordic-Baltic Eight for strong-worded resolutions regarding Belarus’ recent presidential election that took place amid reprisals and extended Łukašenka’s rule.
Many independent media outlets have been branded extremist groups for political reasons in Belarus after the disputed 2020 presidential election and have relocated abroad. Belarusian authorities routinely use terrorism and extremism designations to silence critical voices.
Exiled journalists have been reporting financial problems over the past year, among them KYKY, Reform, Belsat, Plan B, EX-PRESS and the Belarusian service of the Polish Radio Wnet, which eventually ceased operations.

Cichanoŭskaja discusses support for Belarusians with Polish chargé d'affaires
- PoliticsReprisals: former customs officer’s high treason charge trial beginsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAt least 33 sent for forced treatment on political grounds since 2020The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityHomiel region checks radiation after Zelensky reports Chernobyl strikeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyRunaway athlete’s ex-husband back in Minsk, ready to cooperate with investigatorsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsImprisoned activist's book declared extremistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank’s net foreign-currency assets up 0.7 percent in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMAZ truck sales in Russia drop 32 percent y/yThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk’s rights violations amount to crimes against humanity – UN expertsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelGee sales in Russia falling since NovemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsGovernment brands 18 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCichanoŭskaja condemns Russia’s drone attack on Chernobyl reactor shieldThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyPro-government sociologists: more than 70 percent trust law enforcersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsEcuador's president congratulates Łukašenka on seventh term in officeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Belarusians’ online activities in focusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja meets with US diplomat who took prisoners out of BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to build 4.5 million sq. m of housing this year, more than in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMore than 27,000 genetic passports issued in Belarus – scientistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityBelarusian drill draws on the experience of war in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityCIS draft anti-terrorist program sent for revisionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportInvestigators launch probe against dissident athlete's ex-husbandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyAliyev optimistic about Azerbaijan-Belarus relationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyMedical tourism up 20 percent in 2024 – officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFlying object shot down over Homiel as Russia attacked Ukraine last night – reportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCoE local body to appoint a special rapporteur on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus, Cuba set to expand trade in goods by 2030The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsRFE/RL hopes for release of journalist ŁosikThe material is available only to POZIRK+