Tsikhanouskaya: The children will soon return to me in Warsaw. I'm really looking forward to it.

Sviatlana and Siarhei Tsikhanouski with their children Karney and Hnia. August 2025. Photo: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Instagram account

— He's doing well. He's currently studying English [in the USA], — Tsikhanouskaya explained. — He will, of course, return at some point. Maybe to politics, maybe to blogging. He will choose that for himself. I'm very happy that he gets to spend quite a lot of time with the children. It's like he's catching up on the time he was without them. It's tough for them, of course, because two teenagers in the family is not easy. But he's coping, he's doing great. We're in touch with them every day. And, of course, I'd like to support all his efforts. Now he's decided to take a breather, so to speak, to focus on himself, and then he'll choose what he wants to do next.

— So, he doesn't have any plans yet?

— Let's ask him about his plans.

— And the children are still with him, not in Poland?

— They will be back soon.

— You're probably already waiting for them?

— Oh, I'm really looking forward to it.

— How do they perceive all of this? A new country again, new conditions...

— Oh, listen, all our Belarusian children have faced such a fate, where it's unclear where they will be tomorrow. Broken families and lost friends in Belarus — these are all, of course, difficulties. But, looking at their relatives, at their parents, seeing that they are coping, supporting each other, children adapt better to new circumstances. I see how many of them have gone to Polish or Lithuanian schools. Everyone adapts, studies, finds new friends.

Of course, we Belarusians try to ensure that children make friends with Belarusians, but this does not limit them. And that's why I think they will find new friends and new perspectives. And generally... You know, we have this understanding: where a tree is planted, there it should be grown. From the homeland's perspective, that's true. But [emigration] is also a chance for children to see a different world from various sides.

— How is Siarhei coping? Does he ask you for advice, or call to complain about them?

— He's coping surprisingly well. We understand he was gone for five years, right? And even before that, he worked a lot, meaning the children were mostly with me. Now they've grown up, they can even cook for themselves. But they're also becoming more mischievous.

Dad has his own parenting methods there. I had discipline. Because mom said — it must be done, no backing out, even though I'm a very kind mother. But dad... He was without them for so long, he wants to envelop them with love. So he turned out to be a not-so-strict father. But he still copes very well. I don't even have a speck of worry that something might go wrong. He buys everything they need, cooks, helps with homework, sits there with them, "struggles." Of course, when we call, he might complain: "It's hard, the children don't listen, they fought," — or something else. But it's absolutely good-natured. I say: "Be firmer with them there."

— You're telling him to be "firmer"?

— Yes! And he says: "Well, I can't, they're just children."

— How do you maintain contact? You're in different time zones. Do you call them at night?

— I have a period of time in the evening. You come home tired from work, but you know the children are there. I often do homework with them. But we are Belarusian women, we cope.

Павялічыць

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys (right) during the opening of the Council of Europe information point in Vilnius. Lithuania, May 12, 2026. Photo: Press service of Tsikhanouskaya's Office

— During the opening ceremony of the Council of Europe information point in Vilnius, journalists were discussing that you started looking better after moving to Warsaw. Is the secret that the children are with their father?

— (laughs) I don't know how much better I look now than ever before. But you know, I've started paying more attention to my health. As a woman, I also see that I'm gaining weight, although I exercise periodically and regularly. And when you realize you're on the verge, and the number on the scale doesn't satisfy you, you start losing weight. Although in Warsaw, I haven't quite settled yet, I haven't found my gym. For now, I have an online trainer with whom I work out.

But you know what? When the first mass releases of people began, not even after the first group, and not after Siarhei was released, but, apparently, after the third or fourth, I was able to breathe for the first time. Because all these years (and I'm not saying this for effect) I lived with a constant stone in my soul. And then, it was as if a dynamic started — and I exhaled. I can even be happy sometimes. For example, I've already been to two concerts in Warsaw. People invite me, things are organized. Here (referring to Vilnius. — Editor's note) I was alone and by myself. Work-children, work-children.

And also, probably, because there's no need to rush home. Yes, that also helped. You can dedicate more time to public affairs, go out somewhere, sit and talk with someone. Have a coffee quietly in a cafe. In Vilnius, I couldn't allow myself that, because I immediately ran home to the children, to help with homework... So I'm very grateful to Siarhei that he helped me out a bit now. Because there was such a difficult period.

— How do you like Warsaw? Don't you miss Vilnius?

— I will always miss Vilnius, because it became my second home — that's how it turned out. I will always remember with great gratitude these five years I lived here. But, of course, in a broader sense — it's gratitude for Lithuania's stance, for accepting Belarusians, political prisoners. This gratitude will never disappear.

As for Warsaw, there's a different, larger, presence of Belarusians, more organizations, initiatives. I don't want to offend the Belarusian community in Lithuania, but Warsaw has more life because of this. So I'm more occupied with Belarusians there than I was in Vilnius.

We don't have our own premises yet, we're working on that. In Vilnius, we, of course, invited initiatives, held various meetings. But the Office in Lithuania was more isolated. In Warsaw, I want part of the Office's premises to become a hub for all Belarusians. So that everyone can come if they need to work, to hold some event.

Although there are already many wonderful Belarusian places there: the CBS (Center for Belarusian Solidarity), and the Belarusian House, and the Museum of Free Belarus, for example, which always welcomes Belarusians. But another such place will appear.

— Maybe the Lithuanian authorities are already trying to call you back?

— There's no such intention. I don't want to offend anyone — we all understand the circumstances. The Office in Vilnius remains the diplomatic center of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office. And it has diplomatic accreditation. I am very grateful to Lithuania that, despite my relocation, the Office is active, holds many meetings, and works very actively with authorities at various levels. The Office is not just about Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; it's an institution that must function.

— And if you were invited, would you return, or not anymore?

— Politically, I don't understand how that could even happen.

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