Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, announced her relocation to Warsaw citing security issues as the primary reason. Speaking to the Polish news agency PAP, she mentioned that several of her staff members have also moved with her and will continue their work from the Polish capital. Tsikhanouskaya reassured that her office in Vilnius will remain operational despite the transfer.

The move comes after the Lithuanian government significantly reduced her personal security, which previously included round-the-clock protection by special forces, later downgraded to police protection. Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė framed this transition as an adjustment to the current level of threat facing Tsikhanouskaya. The decision suggests a growing concern for her safety, particularly in light of her ongoing position as a target for Belarusian intelligence services.

Tsikhanouskaya, who contested against Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in the disputed 2020 presidential elections, claims she won the election, although Lukashenko declared victory. Her status as a prominent figure opposing the Belarusian regime underscores the potential ramifications of her relocation, both for her safety and for the dynamics of Belarusian political opposition, as she seeks to amplify her activism from Warsaw under the protection of the Polish government, which she believes is committed to ensuring her security.