During her visit, Tsikhanouskaya reaffirmed the collective determination of Belarusians to forge a future rooted in democratic values and echoed the aspirations of countless citizens striving for freedom and justice.

“I came to Bulgaria to get to know your country. It’s a pity that our nations know so little about each other,” she stressed.

“With my visit, I want to make Bulgarians aware of what is happening in my country, what we are fighting for, how we are fighting for independence against the regime,” Tsikhanouskaya added.

Honored to meet with PM Nikolai Denkov on my first visit to 🇧🇬. Immensely grateful for the strong support. We're rebuilding ties between our nations that were broken by Lukashenka's regime. The future for democratic #Belarus lies within the family of European nations. pic.twitter.com/KpWwlrid8J

— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) March 5, 2024

She pointed out that it is crucial for people to understand that the future of Belarus is tied to democracy and that having Lukashenka as a leader is a road to nowhere. “He has simply taken our country back to the days of Stalinism, to repression, and has become an ally of Putin,” the opposition leader emphasized.

Tsikhanouskaya received assurances of support from Bulgarian authorities for the Belarusian people’s aspirations towards a democratic state, emphasizing principles like the rule of law and human rights.

Proud to see such powerful support from the 🇧🇬 Parliament today. Speaker Rosen Dimitrov Zhelyazkov confirmed Bulgaria's non-recognition of Lukashenka's fake elections & backing for the European future of #Belarus. A Group for Democratic Belarus will be created in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/c740TnMeaO

— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) March 5, 2024

Political prisoners in Belarus

According to a report on the human rights situation in Belarus conducted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, there are currently “more than 4,500 convictions in politically motivated criminal cases” in Belarus.

First-hand witnesses and family members claim that the majority of political detainees are held in extremely harsh circumstances, which frequently equate to torture.

The report also found that in at least five cases, political prisoners died “as a result of torture or failure to provide sufficient medical care.” Furthermore, some high-profile prisoners began disappearing in 2023, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, with their families and legal council unable to get in touch with them.