Index on Censorship awards Cichanoŭskaja for resisting authoritarianism

November 20, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja was selected as a winner of Index on Censorship 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards, the group reported on its website.
The award ceremony took place yesterday in London. The Belarusian politician received the Trustee award for campaigning for the return of Belarusian democracy and advocating for jailed Belarusian dissidents.
Algerian jailed activist Mohamed Tadjadit, Turkey’s Saturday Mothers peaceful protest movement and Venezuela’s veteran journalist Carlos Correa received awards in other categories.
This year’s winners remind everyone of “extreme courage at a time when all around us darkness seems to be descending,” said Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO of Index on Censorship. “May their stories act as examples for all of us, including those of us in the United Kingdom who have fortunately been able to take basic rights largely for granted, but who are now seeing that nothing, not even freedom of expression, is guaranteed.”
The 2025 awards honor the individuals and groups who, while often overlooked by the international community, demonstrate to the world how to resist rising authoritarianism and populism, the group said.
The London-based Index on Censorship is an NGO campaigning for freedom of expression.
Cichanoŭskaja advocates for exiled Belarusians in Kraków
- Politics, SecurityOfficials discussing paramilitary role for Financial Investigations DepartmentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityCol. Iljukievič appointed as commander of Special Operations ForcesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyLithuanian border guards detained 11 wanted Belarusians in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland prevents five attempts by undocumented migrants to cross border from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsInterior ministry labels 26 as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPolish Border Guard reports four seizures of cigarettes flown in from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyContraband cigarette seizures in Lithuania tripled in 2025 – border guardsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- SocietyInterior minister orders deployment of heavy equipment for snow removalThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyŁukašenka's edict cuts paperwork for administrative proceduresThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityInterior troops wrap up anti-drone exerciseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsSeimas deputy speaker backs maintaining Cichanoŭskaja’s office in VilniusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: opposition supporters keep risking extremist and terrorist designationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian lawmakers mull simplified citizenship procedure for foreign investorsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityBelarus’ interior troops hold countersabotage drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+


