Vilnius Freedom Summit Unites Democratic Leaders and Activists Across Regions

Vilnius, Lithuania-Freedom House and the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-hosted the Vilnius Freedom Summit today, bringing together senior government officials, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, former political prisoners, and democracy advocates to strengthen international cooperation in confronting authoritarian threats. Hosted at Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the summit emphasized the urgent need for greater coordination among democracies as authoritarian governments increasingly work together to suppress dissent and undermine democratic institutions.

"The desire for freedom is universal, and those standing up to authoritarian rule face many of the same challenges, regardless of where they live," said Jamie Fly, CEO of Freedom House. "Lithuania, with its own history of overcoming Soviet occupation and longstanding tradition of solidarity with those fighting for freedom, was a fitting place to bring frontline activists from Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America together with policymakers, to strengthen cooperation and support one another in this shared struggle."

The Vilnius Freedom Summit builds on the Global Freedom Summit convened by Freedom House in Sea Island, Georgia, in October 2025, which launched an international effort to strengthen democratic solidarity and counter authoritarian coordination. The Vilnius gathering brought together senior government officials from the United States and European democracies; frontline democracy advocates including Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, Claudia Vargas of Fundación Arias, Alexandra Salazar of Asociación Memoria y Justicia, Sairam Rivas, a Venezuelan activist and former political prisoner, Pedro Urruchurtu, coordinator of international affairs of Vente Venezuela, and Camila Rodríguez of Cuba's Justicia 11J; and members of the Freedom House Board, including Board Chair Norman Willox and Chair Emeritus, the Honorable Jane Harman. Ambassador Mike Waltz, US Representative to the United Nations, recorded a video message reiterating the US commitment to freeing political prisoners. Discussions focused on strengthening transatlantic cooperation and coordinating greater international support for political prisoners, human rights defenders, and peaceful democratic transitions.

Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all are free. We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy's defenders.