In a formal sitting, the two prominent opposition leaders from Belarus address plenary.

Sergey Tihanovski was pardoned and released from jail, along with 13 other political prisoners in June. He ran as presidential candidate in 2020 but was arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison for “organising riots” and “inciting hatred” and then to 18 months extra for “insubordination”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya entered the presidential race in her husband’s place and ran against Alexander Lukashenko, who was declared winner of the fraudulent 2020 elections. In a text adopted in October 2020, the European Parliament noted that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was president-elect in the eyes of the Belarusian people and that her Coordination Council was the legitimate representative of the people of Belarus.

MEPs and Council and Commission representatives discuss the situation in Belarus five years after the fraudulent presidential elections

After the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, the Lukashenko regime launched a brutal and systematic crackdown on peaceful protests against the fraudulent election result. Since then, the Belarusian authorities have pursued a campaign to shut down civil society, silence independent media and eliminate all forms of political opposition. Thousands have been unjustly detained, subjected to torture and ill-treatment, or forced into exile. In January 2025, Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, won a seventh consecutive presidential term. Opposition leaders and activists did not react to the vote, as most had been jailed or gone into exile, and no dissent is tolerated inside the country.

Formal sitting with Sergey Tihanovski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Four women fighting for freedom, peace and justice in their home countries – from Belarus, leader of the country's democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Palina Sharenda Panasiuk; and Lenie Umerova and Tata Kepler from Ukraine – have all been invited to address plenary., Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of Belarus’ democratic forces, 

will speak to MEPs at a solemn session on Tuesday at noon. 

In the early afternoon, MEPs and Council and Commission representatives will debate the Commission’s “Roadmap for Women’s Rights” (expected to be adopted by the Commission on Friday 7 March). The discussion is expected to focus on the EU’s role in safeguarding and advancing women’s rights and the principles and measures outlined in the Roadmap. Key issues will include the implementation of EU legislation, such as the first ever EU rules to combat violence against women, the rules on improving gender balance on corporate boards, and binding pay transparency measures. MEPs are also likely to discuss the need for women’s equal participation in the economy and society, including in politics, and the impact of shifting political dynamics on women’s rights and gender equality.

International Women's Day Celebration

EP President Roberta METSOLA meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition

High-Level Conference - Standing with the People of Belarus

IDEA - Belarus: Building Foundations For Democratic Change

EP Plenary session - Formal Sitting with Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus

Ewa KOPACZ meets with Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Copenhagen (Denmark) - Meeting with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition forces

EPP members of  FEMM committee and guests of  the International Women's Day family photo

EP Plenary session International Women's Day Celebration

Members of the EP Conference of Presidents meet with  Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition forces

Address by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus to the European Parliament. This transcription if the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal Sitting with Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus: address by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President opens the formal sitting with Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal Sitting with Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus: opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

This News item shows the arrival of Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus, to the EP, their meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and extracts from the address. In a formal sitting, the two prominent opposition leaders from Belarus address plenary. Sergey Tihanovski was pardoned and released from jail, along with 13 other political prisoners in June. He ran as presidential candidate in 2020 but was arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison for “organising riots” and “inciting hatred” and then to 18 months extra for “insubordination”. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya entered the presidential race in her husband’s place and ran against Alexander Lukashenko, who was declared winner of the fraudulent 2020 elections.

Formal Sitting with Sergey TIHANOVSKI, Sakharov Prize laureate 2020 and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus: extracts from the meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and from the address to the plenary

This news item presents the roundtable at the CoP (Conference of Presidents) and extracts from the announcement in the Chamber by Roberta METSOLA, EP President of the laureate: Imprisoned journalists fighting for your freedom and ours, Andrzej POCZOBUT from Belarus and Mzia AMAGLOBELI from Georgia as awarded 2025 Sakharov Prize

Imprisoned journalists fighting for your freedom and ours, Andrzej POCZOBUT from Belarus and Mzia AMAGLOBELI from Georgia awarded 2025 Sakharov Laureates: roundtable at the Conference of Presidents, extracts from the announcement by Roberta MESTOLA

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, provides support to Belarusian political prisoners with extract of the chamber, meeting with EP groups leaders, ambiance shots with EP members signing postcards to support Belarusian political prisoners, statements of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus and Sakharov Prize laureate 2020

Support to Belarusian political prisoners, in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President: extracts

MEPs celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March) at a special event in the Strasbourg hemicycle. Four women fighting for freedom, peace and justice in their home countries – Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of Belarusian democratic opposition forces, Palina SHARENDA-PANASIUK, released Belarusian Political Prisoner, Leniie UMEROVA, Released Crimean Tatar Political Prisoner, Tata KEPLER, Ukrainian Volunteer and Humanitarian Activist – have all been invited to address plenary. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

International Women’s Day: speeches by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Palina SHARENDA-PANASIUK, Leniie UMEROVA and Tata KEPLER

The European Parliament marks International Women’s Day (8 March). Four women fighting for freedom, peace and justice in their home countries – from Belarus, leader of the country's democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Palina Sharenda Panasiuk; and Lenie Umerova and Tata Kepler from Ukraine – have all been invited to address plenary, and were officially welcomed by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament.

International Women's Day Celebration arrival of political activists and released prisoners from Belarus and Ukraine and meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Parliament authorities

The European Parliament marks International Women’s Day (8 March). Four women fighting for freedom, peace and justice in their home countries – from Belarus, leader of the country's democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Palina Sharenda Panasiuk; and Lenie Umerova and Tata Kepler from Ukraine – have all been invited to address plenary.

International Women's Day Celebration: arrival of Belarusian and Ukrainian political activists and released prisoners and meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Parliament authorities

TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Sviatlana (BY)

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