WHO WE ARE

A team with professional experience on both sides of the conversation.

Belarusian Initiative was founded by people who can bring Belarusian and European partners to the same table. We want cooperation to be easier to start and easier to sustain.

FOUNDING TEAM

Tsimafei Misiukevich

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Tsimafei worked as a Project Coordinator at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Belarus Office and previously with the Foreign Policy Association in New York.

He holds an MA in Global Studies from Bard College in New York and Central European University in Vienna.

His work has focused on international projects, European affairs and cooperation with institutional partners.

He is fluent in English and can also communicate in German and French.

Ivan Rak

Co-Founder & Director, Belarus Partnerships

Ivan has more than 30 years of experience in international cooperation, business and management.

Ina Misiukevich

Co-Founder & Legal Consultant

Ina is a lawyer with more than 20 years of experience at the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, where she worked in legal and regulatory roles. She contributed to the drafting of the Education Code of the Republic of Belarus.

She holds a law degree from Belarusian State University in Minsk, where she also taught law for around eight years.

Earlier in her career, she worked at the International Arbitration Court of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

OUR PRINCIPLES

How we work

INDEPENDENT

We choose our partners and projects independently, based on their value for people. We do not represent the interests of political parties or movements.

OPEN TO DIALOGUE

We work with a wide range of people and institutions, including in complex and sensitive settings.

RESULTS-ORIENTED

We believe in quiet work. We would rather deliver a result than make a statement.

RELIABLE

We respect the agreed procedures and the rules of the institutions we work with. Trust depends on that.

WHY VIENNA

The connection did not begin with us.

1992

Austria and Belarus established diplomatic relations in 1992. Later that year, one of their first bilateral economic agreements was signed in Vienna.

1996

During Austria’s presidency of the Central European Initiative, Belarus joined the CEI together with several other countries of the region.

2000s

Austrian companies expanded their work in Belarus. Raiffeisen acquired a stake in Priorbank in 2002–2003, and Telekom Austria acquired a majority stake in velcom in 2007.

2009

Austria and Belarus formalised programmes for recuperative stays of Belarusian children in Austria. These programmes continued a long tradition of humanitarian cooperation.

2013

Vienna-based Kapsch TrafficCom launched the first stage of BelToll, the nationwide electronic tolling system in Belarus. Austrian technology became part of the country’s transport infrastructure.

2016

Austria opened an embassy in Minsk. This permanent diplomatic presence reflected the development of bilateral relations and Austrian investment in Belarus.

2018–2019

Austria and Belarus worked together to commemorate the victims of Maly Trostenets. The memorial to Austrian victims, inaugurated in 2019, became an important part of this shared work of remembrance.

2019

Austria opened Austria House in Minsk, bringing its embassy and foreign trade office together. High-level visits in both directions marked a period of active diplomatic and economic exchange.

TODAY

Decades of cooperation with the Republic of Belarus have built valuable experience and lasting professional ties. We want to preserve them and build on them through new partnerships and joint projects.

COOPERATION

Want to work with our team?

Have a project or partnership in mind? Let’s talk.

VIENNA & INTERNATIONAL

vienna@belarusianinitiative.org ↗

BELARUS PARTNERSHIPS

minsk@belarusianinitiative.org ↗

Belarussische Initiative. Zentrum für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Mariahilfer Straße 91 · 1060 Wien, Österreich

ZVR 1298255567

office@belarusianinitiative.org

EXPLORE

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

vienna@belarusianinitiative.org

+43 1 292 07 29

BELARUS PARTNERSHIPS

minsk@belarusianinitiative.org

+43 1 214 27 89

+375 29 655 56 26

Belarussische Initiative. Zentrum für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Mariahilfer Straße 91 · 1060 Wien, Österreich

ZVR 1298255567

office@belarusianinitiative.org

Impressum

WHY VIENNA

The connection did not begin with us.

1992

Austria and Belarus established diplomatic relations in 1992. Later that year, one of their first bilateral economic agreements was signed in Vienna.

1996

During Austria’s presidency of the Central European Initiative, Belarus joined the CEI together with several other countries of the region.

2000s

Austrian companies expanded their work in Belarus. Raiffeisen acquired a stake in Priorbank in 2002–2003, and Telekom Austria acquired a majority stake in velcom in 2007.

2009

Austria and Belarus formalised programmes for recuperative stays of Belarusian children in Austria. These programmes continued a long tradition of humanitarian cooperation.

2013

Vienna-based Kapsch TrafficCom launched the first stage of BelToll, the nationwide electronic tolling system in Belarus. Austrian technology became part of the country’s transport infrastructure.

2016

Austria opened an embassy in Minsk. This permanent diplomatic presence reflected the development of bilateral relations and Austrian investment in Belarus.

2018–2019

Austria and Belarus worked together to commemorate the victims of Maly Trostenets. The memorial to Austrian victims, inaugurated in 2019, became an important part of this shared work of remembrance.

2019

Austria opened Austria House in Minsk, bringing its embassy and foreign trade office together. High-level visits in both directions marked a period of active diplomatic and economic exchange.

TODAY

WHY VIENNA

The connection did not begin with us.

1992

Austria and Belarus established diplomatic relations in 1992. Later that year, one of their first bilateral economic agreements was signed in Vienna.

1996

During Austria’s presidency of the Central European Initiative, Belarus joined the CEI together with several other countries of the region.

2000s

Austrian companies expanded their work in Belarus. Raiffeisen acquired a stake in Priorbank in 2002–2003, and Telekom Austria acquired a majority stake in velcom in 2007.

2009

Austria and Belarus formalised programmes for recuperative stays of Belarusian children in Austria. These programmes continued a long tradition of humanitarian cooperation.

2013

Vienna-based Kapsch TrafficCom launched the first stage of BelToll, the nationwide electronic tolling system in Belarus. Austrian technology became part of the country’s transport infrastructure.

2016

Austria opened an embassy in Minsk. This permanent diplomatic presence reflected the development of bilateral relations and Austrian investment in Belarus.

2018–2019

Austria and Belarus worked together to commemorate the victims of Maly Trostenets. The memorial to Austrian victims, inaugurated in 2019, became an important part of this shared work of remembrance.

2019

Austria opened Austria House in Minsk, bringing its embassy and foreign trade office together. High-level visits in both directions marked a period of active diplomatic and economic exchange.

TODAY