Natalia Ivanovna Kochanova[a] (née Tolkachiova;[b] born 25 September 1960) is a Belarusian politician who has been Speaker of the Council of the Republic of Belarus since December 2019.

[16] In April 2020, Kochanova was asked by Lukashenko to invite the World Health Organization to assess the performance of Belarus's healthcare system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[23][24] Opening the fourth session of the National Assembly on 2 October 2020, Kochanova said, "The election campaign was held in difficult conditions.

People made their choice in support of the incumbent President, in favor of stability, peace, tranquility, and the policy pursued in the country."

"[25] Later in October, the Council of Europe issued a statement condemning any further use of violence in Belarus, including "disproportionate use of force by the authorities against protestors.

"[26] Kochanova issued a statement in response, saying the West receives "one-sided information" on the situation in Belarus from people who "do not represent the majority of citizens who supported the country's course during the presidential election."

She said Belarus was "ready to discuss the situation in the country with foreign partners, subject to mutual respect, objectivity, consideration of the parties' interests and non-interference with internal affairs.

"[27] After the German Bundestag adopted a resolution on 4 November 2020 rejecting the results of the presidential election as neither free nor fair, denying the legitimacy of Lukashenko and calling for a new vote,[28] Kochanova and Chair of the House of Representatives, Vladimir Andreichenko, issued a joint statement.

But I am very saddened by the fact that today the framework of human norms and morality is being shattered ... when an adult woman like me is standing in front of you, and you shout in her face, this is rude and unacceptable.

According to the leaked audio recording, she claimed that the protests had been organized from abroad, declared the photos of the people beaten by the police to be fake, supported expulsion of students from the universities for political reasons.