In Canberra, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at a conference focused on the growing cooperation between authoritarian regimes, Russia’s influence in Europe and Asia, and its partnership with China. The event was organized by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the University of Melbourne.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was the keynote speaker at the event, which focused on global threats of authoritarianism and cooperation among democratic nations.
In her speech, she emphasized that Belarus and Ukraine are fighting for the same values that Australia upholds – peace, human rights, and democracy:
“A threat to freedom in one country endangers freedom everywhere. Even here, in Australia, one can feel the impact of Russian aggression through infiltration and disinformation.
Tyranny is like cancer: if not contained, it spreads with double force. Governments that don’t respect their own people will not respect their neighbors either. Democracy, human rights, and security are closely interconnected – and Belarus is a perfect example of that.
One of the lessons I’ve learned in my short political career is that no struggle for freedom can be won without allies. And I believe it is the duty of all democratic societies to support those who fight for the same ideals and values”.
Photo: DFAT.
