Belarus Designates Tsikhanouskaya's United Transitional Cabinet as 'Terrorist'

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Minsk, Belarus – Belarusian authorities have escalated their crackdown on the opposition, officially designating the United Transitional Cabinet (UTC), formed by exiled democratic forces leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as a "terrorist organization." This move effectively bans the group's activities within Belarus and carries severe criminal penalties for anyone involved in its operations or financing.

The announcement came this week from the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office, which stated that a court decision, made at the request of the oversight body, concluded that "elements of terrorist activity" were present in the actions of the cabinet's organizers and active participants. The Prosecutor General's Office further elaborated that this conclusion was supported by materials from criminal cases, including charges of inciting social hatred and discord, conspiracy to seize state power, and other grave crimes, which have already resulted in guilty verdicts.

Background of the United Transitional Cabinet

The United Transitional Cabinet was established in August 2022 by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya during the "New Belarus" conference. It was presented as a "collective executive body" for the Belarusian opposition, aimed at advancing Belarus's national interests, ensuring democratic transition, and overcoming the country's political crisis. According to Tsikhanouskaya's website, the UTC is also responsible for developing decisions related to the protection of independence, sovereignty, and civil rights.

This latest designation is not the first time the UTC has been targeted by Belarusian authorities. Shortly after its formation, in September 2022, the Belarusian KGB had already recognized the UTC as an "extremist formation." Members of the Cabinet have also faced significant legal repercussions in Belarus. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya herself was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in a penal colony, while Pavel Latushka, a deputy head of the UTC, received an 18-year sentence in absentia.

The Aftermath of the 2020 Presidential Election

The current political climate in Belarus stems largely from the disputed 2020 presidential election. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya entered the race after her husband, prominent opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski, was arrested. Despite official results declaring Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who has been in power since 1994, the overwhelming winner with Tsikhanouskaya receiving around 10% of the vote, the opposition widely condemned the election as falsified.

The announcement of these results in August 2020 triggered unprecedented mass protests across Belarus, with hundreds of thousands demanding Lukashenka's resignation, the release of political prisoners, and new elections. These demonstrations were met with brutal suppression by security forces, leading to thousands of arrests, long prison sentences for many participants, and forcing countless Belarusians to flee the country.

The designation of the United Transitional Cabinet as a "terrorist organization" marks a significant escalation in the Belarusian government's efforts to dismantle and delegitimize the opposition movement, further isolating the country from democratic norms.