Building Positive Relations Among Peoples of the Americas, Europe and Asia (Eurasia)

The America-Eurasia Center

Invites you and your colleagues to two of the most special events in Washington DC:

In the 2020 Belarusian election, her husband, Valery Tsepkalo, announced his presidential run against the incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. On July 14th, 2020, he was denied registration as a candidate, and the family began receiving threats to their safety from the state government. The three opposing candidates to the incumbent united their campaigns, and following this move, Tsepkalo began representing her husband at campaign rallies and political debates. She fell under intense pressure from the government to concede the race, but persisted even after her husband fled the country with their children in fear for their safety. More of Tsepkalo’s family members began being accused of crimes and asked to testify against Valery in government-backed trials. Eventually, she fled the country the night before the election to rejoin her family and cast her vote in the presidential election.

When incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner of the election, Tsepkalo was among the many other Belarusian activists who called on other countries to recognize the legitimate winner of the election (Tikhanosakaya). Veronika Tsepkalo has been internationally recognized for her role in building a “free and democratic Belarus” and for advocating for women’s freedom initiatives through the spread of democracy within her home country and throughout the world.

Veronika Tsepkalo’s Distinguished Awards:

●      John S. McCain Freedom Award (USA)

●      Sakharov Prize (European Parliament)

●      Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award (USA)

●      Luther Prize (“the intrepid word”) (Germany)

●      Csoklich Democracy Prize [Austria]

●      Democracy Medal (International Association of Political Consultants)

●      Charlemagne Prize (Germany)

The accomplishments of women throughout history have moved this world forward. From Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa, Harriet Tubman, and many others, the America-Eurasia Center wants to help this group celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout the world.

The Center’s America-Eurasia Art Foundation brings a special performance by the American composer and an "American Treasure," Richard Trifan. He will be performing several of his works, the last of which is titled "Women Empowering the World.”

We are planning an Art Salon in the future, which will feature women artists. Welcome and enjoy the event, everyone!" 

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We are inviting those interested in international affairs and representatives from our business and foreign policy community to participate in our new author series. This new series will serve as your foreign policy and international affairs networking hub. The America-Eurasia Center will also present a Star of Excellence Women's Award. For those who wish to help sponsor the event, please contact Michael Cooper at Director@eurasiacenter.org  

Valery Tsepkalo was formerly Belarus' First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minsk's Ambassador to Washington, DC. In 1993, he was an adviser to the first leader of Belarus, Stanislav Shushkevich, and prepared the only visit of U.S. President to Belarus.

Founder and CEO of Belarus Hi Tech Park, largest IT park in Europe.

Valery Tsepkalo and political prisoner Viktor Babariko were major contenders to Lukashenko during the 2020 presidential elections. They together collected a record number of 600,000 signatures for their support in Belarus history. After they were both denied registration on false grounds by Lukashenko's regime, Valery Tsepkalo endorsed Svetlana Tikhanovkaya (the wife of political prisoner blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky), whom Lukashenko gave a permission to register, and asked his wife Veronica Tsepkalo and Maria Kolesnikova from Babariko team to continue campaign with only two paragraphs on their political agenda - the release of prisoners and new elections in 6 months.

This strategy became a success as the people in Belarus rose against the Lukashenko's regime to protest for the opportunity to choose their own leader during free and fair elections. Valery Tsepkalo is the highest-ranking Belarusian official who has ever participated in presidential elections. Mr. Tsepkalo has shown his commitment to promoting the institution of democracy as well as free and fair elections within Belarus. The Forum for Democratic Belarus enlisted 35 Nobel Prize laureates to sign a petition to release political prisoners in Belarus. Belarus is the key to ending the war in Ukraine.

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We are inviting those interested in international affairs and representatives from our business and foreign policy communities to participate in our new lecture series. This new series will serve as your foreign policy and international affairs networking hub. The America-Eurasia Center will also present a Star of Excellence for Civil Society to Valery Tsepkalo for risking his life in order to build a democratic Belarus. For those who wish to help sponsor the event, please contact Michael Cooper at Director@eurasiacenter.org