Norway to Allocate Additional Support for Victims of Repression in Belarus

Norway will provide additional funding to support victims of repression in Belarus. The money will be directed to the International Humanitarian Fund. Last year Norway contributed EUR 850,000 to the fund, according to the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya following her visit to Norway.

On Monday, Tsikhanouskaya held meetings with the Norwegian leadership, members of parliament and representatives of civil society.

A cross-party group “For Democratic Belarus” was officially established in the Norwegian parliament, with eight members from five factions already joining. The group will participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance “For Democratic Belarus,” draw attention to the situation of political prisoners and help address issues faced by the Belarusian diaspora. Tsikhanouskaya met with Speaker of Parliament Masud Gharahkhani and representatives of major political parties.

In talks with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, the discussion focused on negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and the associated risks for Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that Belarus must not lose its independence or remain under Russia’s control as a result of the negotiations. She said it is essential to insist on the withdrawal of Russian troops and nuclear weapons from Belarusian territory. The parties also discussed the release of political prisoners. Tsikhanouskaya welcomed U.S. efforts but reminded that pressure on Alyaksandr Lukashenka must be maintained.

At a meeting with Development Minister Åsmund Aukrust, the discussion focused on expanding support for victims of repression, Belarusian cultural projects, humanitarian programmes and the need to assist Belarusian journalists.

The Office of Tsikhanouskaya also outlined several other outcomes of the visit:

• Norway will continue current support programmes for civil society, independent media and human rights defenders.
• Work is under way to address one of the key issues related to the legalisation of Belarusians in Norway. Solutions are being developed to simplify legalisation procedures and allow Belarusians to renew documents without returning to Belarus, thereby reducing security risks.
• The issue of Belarus will be raised at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna this week, as well as at the meeting of the Nordic-Baltic Eight.
• In 2026, an expert-policy seminar is planned on Belarus’s energy security and the future of the country’s energy sector.