Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the “Belarus: Quiet Resistance” dialogue at the Foro La Toja in Spain. Alongside the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, she spoke about the situation in Belarus, the democratic movement, and Belarusians’ resistance to the regime.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked the European Union and the United States for supporting independent Belarusian media, human rights organizations, NGOs, and cultural and historical initiatives that have been forced into exile. She noted that this support had enabled Belarusian civil society to preserve its structures and continue its work.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also called for a consistent European Union policy toward dictatorships: “There may be a temptation to return to the way things were before — to come to terms with dictatorship, with Lukashenka, with Russia. But Europe is built on the values and principles it has always defended. If it abandons them, Russia will use this as a sign of weakness. That is why it is important for Europe to remain consistent”.
The Foro La Toja has a strong focus on resistance in defense of democracy. In 2022, the forum’s main award was presented to the Ukrainian people for defending democracy and resisting Russian aggression. In 2024, Josep Borrell received the award. The dialogue with him was one of the final international sessions of this year’s forum.
