Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a lecture at the College of Europe, a prestigious postgraduate institution specializing in European studies in Bruges. Around 100 students attended the event.
She addressed the scale of repression, Belarusians’ resistance both inside the country and in exile, as well as the role of culture and the war in Ukraine in shaping modern Belarusian identity.
On dignity and resistance: “Authoritarian regimes often underestimate human dignity. They believe fear is enough. They believe cynicism will always prevail. But they forget that people can choose courage, even when it is difficult and dangerous. However, when dealing with dictators, courage alone is not enough. You must defend your victory”.
On the war and Belarusians’ position: “Unlike in Russia, you will find little support for the war in Belarus. When it began, thousands of people took to the streets in protest. We understood that we might not be able to stop the war, but we wanted – above all – to show the Ukrainian people that we stand with you. It also demonstrated that while the regime may control the state, it does not control the nation”.
On cultural resistance: “Our movement is not only about political structures – it includes independent media, human rights defenders, and cultural initiatives. We have realized that culture and identity are what unite people most effectively. I see this as another priority for us in exile: while the regime is destroying everything national – our culture, language, and heritage – we must preserve them abroad so that they can return home one day”.
