Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is on a working visit to France, where she spoke at the Paris Peace Forum. She stressed the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine, propaganda, and repression, and called for solidarity with those who fight against dictatorship.
- Repression and legitimacy
“Belarusians won the election in 2020. Lukashenka seized power through repression and Putin’s support. I understand that five years have passed, and I hear voices saying that perhaps it is time to start talking to the regime. But we made this mistake before – Lukashenka will always try to deceive the world. And very often, when speaking about Belarus, we see Lukashenka and fail to see what is most precious in Belarus – its nation. These are people who want change and justice”.
- Russian threat
“Russia’s war against Ukraine has changed everything. Europe lived in peace and comfort for a long time, and we thought war was a thing of the past. Now we live in a new world where Russia undermines the architecture of European security. It has become clear that we must prepare for possible escalation. Russia does not know where its borders end. It still believes that the countries of the post-Soviet space remain part of the USSR”.
- Propaganda and solidarity
“Propaganda works hard to poison the minds of Europeans. They try to convince you that you do not have to help others. But the fight against dictatorship is not local – it is global. We must support and show solidarity with those who are on the front line of the struggle against dictatorship”.
- Belarus in the context of European security
“I come from a country that has been drawn into the war through its regime. Belarusian territory and infrastructure are being used to continue attacks on Ukraine and provocations along European borders. When we speak about peace in our region, we should not exclude Belarus from this security architecture. Because without a free Belarus, our European neighbors will always face threats”.
