Sweden increases aid to Belarusian opposition – Cichanoŭskaja’s aide

May 23, Pozirk. Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has thanked Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström for an increase of 26 percent in support for Belarusian civil society this year, the Belarusian opposition leader’s aide Franak Viačorka has told Pozirk.
Target groups include independent media outlets, human rights defenders, cultural initiatives, students and the private sector, he said, noting that Sweden also allocated €430,000 to the international humanitarian fund set up by Cichanoŭskaja to support Belarusian political prisoners.
The Belarusian politician reportedly asked Billström to promote the fund to encourage donations by other countries.
She called on Stockholm to fund scholarships for Belarusian students, youth programs and education opportunities in public administration and diplomacy sectors.
Legalization of Belarusians in Sweden was also under discussion, following the notable progress with the availability of services to people with expired Belarusian passports and the changed status of Belarus, which is no longer considered safe by Swedish migration authorities.
Cichanoŭskaja praised Sweden’s principled and consistent approach to the Belarusian political crisis, describing it as an ally of Belarusian pro-democracy forces.

Sweden earmarks €430,000 to support Belarus' political prisoners
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings surge 62 percent in January-June from H2 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja's aide discusses political prisoners at UN human rights officeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: 26 persecuted in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAt least 1,944 NGOs dissolved since August 2020 – LawtrendThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBotswana’s foreign minister invites investment from Belarus, playing up benefits of peaceful power transferThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyProsecutor appeals convicted Belarusian spy’s sentenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition social security chief decries forced deportation of pardoned prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyEducation officials make conflicting statements on free tuition quota for RussiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Economy
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityPoland convicts seven Georgians accused of transporting undocumented migrantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKellogg says Łukašenka misinterpreted talks on ceasefire in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuania’s top diplomat calls for release of jailed Belarusian dissidentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ non-CIS goods trade deficit expands 43.5 percent year on yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign exchange reserves up 3.4 percent in JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRyžankoŭ meets with Botswana’s top diplomatThe material is available only to POZIRK+