A shelter for Belarusian political refugees and their families, as well as a Belarusian Democratic Community Centre, opened in Florence on 9 December, the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya reported.
The opening ceremony was attended by Tsikhanouskaya, who is on a working visit to Italy, along with representatives of municipal and regional authorities, trade unions and political parties: Vice-President of the European Parliament Pina Picierno, senator and former ambassador Marco Lambardi, chair of the Sesto Fiorentino city council Serena Sassolini, chair of the Regional Council of Tuscany Stefania Saccardi and others.
Repressed Belarusians and a former volunteer of the Kalinowski Regiment are already living in the shelter. Its opening became possible thanks to Tsikhanouskaya’s previous visits, the work of the Belarusian diaspora and Yuliya Yukhno, a representative of the People’s Embassies and the organisation Talaka. Yukhno will head the Belarusian Democratic Community Centre.
“The Belarusian Democratic Community Centre in Florence is our first platform in Italy, but I hope not the last.
I am very grateful to Yuliya Yukhno, her team and volunteers: their efforts and perseverance made all this possible. The centre will host cultural, educational and political events related to Belarus,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
She expressed hope that cooperation between the Belarusian diaspora and local authorities would deepen.
