The struggle for democracy in Belarus
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus, National Leader and the Head of the United Transition Cabinet
Monday, 3 November 2025, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
National Office
Lecture Theatre 2 (GBLT2), Government Buildings, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, 55 Lambton Quay, Pipitea, Wellington
This event sees an address on ‘the struggle for democracy in Belarus’ by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus, National Leader and the Head of the United Transition Cabinet. It is organised by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and the Centre for Strategic Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
According to Independent observers, Tsikhanouskaya won the Belarus presidential election on August 9, 2020 against Aliaksandr Lukashenka. She entered the Presidential race after her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouskaya, was arrested for voicing his presidential aspirations. Following a forced exile from Belarus and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Tsikhanouskaya created and chaired the United Transition Cabinet. Belarusian anti-war activists led by Tsikhanouskaya conducted underground resistance in Belarus by sabotaging the railway transportation of Russian troops as well as volunteering for Belarusian-staffed units fighting for Ukraine.
Among dozens of distinctions, Tsikhanouskaya is a recipient of the Sakharov Prize awarded by the European Parliament, the 2022 International Four Freedoms Award, and the Charlemagne Prize. In 2021 and 2022, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Members of the Norwegian Parliament, respectively. Tsikhanouskaya was recognised in Bloomberg’s Top 50 Most Influential People, Financial Times’ Top 12 Most Influential Women, and Politico’s Top 28 Most Influential Europeans.
Attendance is free, although a donation to NZIIA is encouraged. Registration in advance is essential.
This event sees an address on ‘the struggle for democracy in Belarus’ by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus, National Leader and the Head of the United Transition Cabinet. It is organised by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and the Centre for Strategic Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
According to Independent observers, Tsikhanouskaya won the Belarus presidential election on August 9, 2020 against Aliaksandr Lukashenka. She entered the Presidential race after her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouskaya, was arrested for voicing his presidential aspirations. Following a forced exile from Belarus and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Tsikhanouskaya created and chaired the United Transition Cabinet. Belarusian anti-war activists led by Tsikhanouskaya conducted underground resistance in Belarus by sabotaging the railway transportation of Russian troops as well as volunteering for Belarusian-staffed units fighting for Ukraine.
Among dozens of distinctions, Tsikhanouskaya is a recipient of the Sakharov Prize awarded by the European Parliament, the 2022 International Four Freedoms Award, and the Charlemagne Prize. In 2021 and 2022, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Members of the Norwegian Parliament, respectively. Tsikhanouskaya was recognised in Bloomberg’s Top 50 Most Influential People, Financial Times’ Top 12 Most Influential Women, and Politico’s Top 28 Most Influential Europeans.
Attendance is free, although a donation to NZIIA is encouraged. Registration in advance is essential.
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.