Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is currently in Lisbon, participating in Web Summit 2025, a major technology conference.
She took part in the discussion “Entrepreneurship as a Human Right”, dedicated to the role of entrepreneurship in ensuring freedom, development, and civil rights. The panel also included the Founder and CEO of Imaguru, Tatsiana Marynich (Tania Marinich).
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke about how the repression has forced hundreds of thousands of Belarusians to leave the country, but these people are now creating new businesses abroad. She emphasized that Belarusians in exile have not lost their energy or ability to build – they are contributing to the economies of various countries and will form the foundation for Belarus’ future economic revival.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Because of Lukashenka’s policies, Belarus has lost so many wonderful, talented people who survived in a very constrained environment. And they didn’t just survive – they grew, developed, and contributed to other economies. They are the diamond of our nation and the future of the Belarusian economy. After Lukashenka – and this period in Belarus will end – we will need new companies, entrepreneurs, and investments. These are the people who will help relaunch the economic prosperity of our country”.
