Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya participated in Campus Polska, an annual event where participants discuss current issues related to politics, security, culture, education, and civil society. The discussions during the event also featured prominent figures like the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
The Belarusian leader answered questions from the forum participants.
On Lukashenka:
📌 “Lukashenka underestimated me but he also underestimated our society. He lost touch with reality and with the people. He thought everyone loved him but was gravely mistaken. Unfortunately, we as a society also underestimated the scale of the regime’s brutality”.
📌 “Lukashenka is trying to distance himself from Putin but saving Lukashenka from Putin is not what we have to do. Our objective is to save Belarus from Lukashenka. This is why the West should remain united in its policies and not fall for Lukashenka’s deception”.
On the revolution and comparisons to Ukraine’s Maidan:
📌 “The Belarusian revolution is often compared to Euromaidan but the context was different. In Ukraine, presidents changed, there was still democracy, and there were many people on both sides of the conflict. In Belarus, Lukashenka created a system for himself. The Belarusian society is also very peaceful. We were often told that we are too submissive. That we would take off our shoes to stand on a bench. But now, those same people are fighting for Ukraine as volunteers”.
On pressure on the regime:
📌 “We must initiate accountability processes. Lukashenka must be held accountable for his crimes. Right now, he and his entourage feel impunity and continue committing crimes in Belarus”.
📌 “It is important not to isolate Belarusians, to allow them to visit their relatives and friends, and to study abroad. To allow them to travel. Lukashenka says, ‘No one wants to see you in the West. The West does not want to help you’. What we want is different. We want to return to the European family”.
