Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has arrived in Kyiv for her first official visit to Ukraine. Upon arrival, she visited the grave of Belarusian volunteer fighter Maria Zaitseva, who died fighting for the freedom of Ukraine and Belarus.
Tsikhanouskaya announced her arrival on social media on the morning of May 25.
“It was very important for me to begin this visit by honoring a person who gave her life for the freedom of Ukraine and Belarus,” she wrote.
Tsikhanouskaya laid flowers at Maria Zaitseva’s grave and called her a symbol of “Ukrainian-Belarusian solidarity” and a new generation of Belarusians opposing dictatorship and Russian imperialism.
According to the opposition leader, Zaitseva took part in protests in Belarus in 2020 and later joined Belarusian volunteers after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“She died as a heroine, but her name will live on,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
According to media reports, Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv together with advisers Franak Viačorka, Denis Kuchynski and Anatol Liabedzka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushka, Chief of Staff Valery Matskevich and social affairs representative Volha Zazulinskaya.
During the visit, Tsikhanouskaya is expected to meet with Ukrainian officials and participate in the International Summit of Cities and Regions.
Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
