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Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Photo: Morten Brakestad/Storting

Seminar on Political Prisoners

The Storting’s Presidium hosted a Seminar on Political Prisoners on 8th October 2024. Among those speaking was Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus. Watch a video recording of the seminar.

The number of political prisoners in Europe is on the rise, and has reached record levels in some countries. The arrest and imprisonment of political opponents, human rights activists and critical journalists has become an increasingly common instrument of power in Europe’s authoritarian regimes.

Knowledge of and engagement in the state and direction of European democracy is also significant for developments here in Norway. Focusing attention and continuous pressure on the regimes in question is decisive for the release of political prisoners and the defence of freedom of speech and assembly.

What can we do? How can we put democracy, fundamental rights and freedom at the top of the agenda in important forums and society as a whole? How can Norwegian MPs contribute? These are just some of the key questions which were discussed and debated during the seminar in the Lagting Chamber.

The seminar took place in English.

Photos from the seminar

Watch the seminar

Program

  • Venue:The Lagting Chamber, the Storting (Norwegian Parliament)
  • Time:30–15.00
  • Moderator: Roger Severin Bruland

11.30 – Light refreshments in the Central Hall

12.00 – Opening by Vice President of the Storting, Morten Wold

12.05 – Remarks by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition

12.10 – Remarks by Maria Dahle, Director, Human Rights House Foundation

12.15 –Conversation with prominent human rights defenders from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Serbia and Ukraine

13.00 – Coffee break

13.15 – Thórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir, General Rapporteur on political prisoners from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

13.25 – Conversation with selected MPs: Åsmund Aukrust (Labour Party), Ingjerd Schie Schou (Conservative Party), Guri Melby (Liberal Party), Jone Blikra (Labour Party) and Thórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir

14.10 – Coffee break

14.20 – The situation in Belarus, conversation med Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

15.00 – Close

Last updated: 09.10.2024 13:41
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