Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya began her working visit to Albania, where the Pact of Free Cities Summit is taking place. The event serves as a platform for politicians, diplomats, and experts to discuss critical political and social issues.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya took part in an interactive discussion with mayors and 80 young political activists. The session focused on broad topics related to the situation in Belarus.
In her address, the Belarusian leader challenged several common misconceptions about Belarus:
Myth #1: Belarus is just part of Russia.
“False. Yes, we are neighbors. But we are not the same. For centuries, Belarus has been part of Europe. Our culture and our traditions are European. You saw our 2020 protests – peaceful, beautiful, full of hope. Even when people stood on benches, they took off their shoes. That’s our mentality”.
Myth #2: Belarusians are not fighting for democracy.
“False. We have paid a huge price for freedom – through uprisings, wars, and resistance. And for 30 years now, we have been trying to break this dictatorship. It has survived because of three things: repression, Russian money, and Russian support. The moment one of these pillars collapses, the regime will fall”.
Myth #3: Belarusians support the war in Ukraine.
“No. In 2020, we proved that the majority of Belarusians stood against Lukashenka. And after the war started, even more protests emerged – people sabotaged Russian trains and refused to join the war. The real Belarus is not on Putin’s side”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The summit in Albania is a unique opportunity to learn from a country that has successfully overcome an authoritarian regime. We face similar challenges as we strive to restore democracy in our society, uphold human rights, and revive economic development. That’s why sharing experiences and adopting strategies that can help in our fight is so important”.
