Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she discussed the challenges faced by Belarusians living in Georgia with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin.
“I raised the issue of the difficulties Belarusians living in Georgia face in obtaining documents, residence permits, and legal status.
I called for ensuring the protection of the rights of Belarusians who continue to face political persecution even in exile,” Tsikhanouskaya wrote on social media platform X.
Tsikhanouskaya was the main challenger to Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus’s 2020 presidential election. The vote, whose official results were not recognized by the European Union and the United States, was followed by mass protests and severe crackdowns. Tsikhanouskaya left the country and continues her public and political activities in exile.
Belarusian activists have repeatedly reported difficulties in obtaining international protection as well as obstacles when attempting to re-enter Georgia. Notably, in September 2026, reports surfaced regarding the expulsion of activist Lev Mikheev. He had lived in the country for five years and had been seeking asylum. In the end, the activist departed for Armenia.
