On October 20, the Golden Laurels (Złote Laury) awards ceremony took place in Warsaw, organized by the popular Polish publications Super Express and Super Biznes. One of the evening’s main honorees was Belarusian–Polish journalist and former political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut, who was named Person of the Year.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the ceremony. In addition to Mr. Poczobut, other guests included:
- Ales Bialiatski, Viasna Human Rights Center Chair and Co-Founder and Nobel Peace Prize laureate;
- Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus;
- Krzysztof Gawkowski, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs;
- Wojciech Balczun, Poland’s Minister of State Assets;
- Marcin Kulasek, Poland’s Minister of Science and Higher Education;
- Stefan Krajewski, Poland’s Minister of Agriculture;
- Konrad Wojnarowski, Poland’s Deputy Minister of Funds and Regional Policy;
- Andrii Bodnar, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland;
- Valdemaras Sarapinas, Lithuania’s Ambassador;
- representatives of the diplomatic missions of Slovakia and Hungary.
In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Poland for its support for Belarusians and highlighted the special ties between the two countries. She recalled that Poland’s Solidarity movement had served as an example for Belarus’s democratic movement and that Poland and Lithuania had welcomed thousands of exiled Belarusians.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the significant contribution Belarusians make to Poland through business, sport, education, and culture. She mentioned athletes Mariya Zhodzik and Krystsina Tsimanouskaya. She noted that Polish companies with Belarusian roots generate billions of zlotys in revenue every year and expressed confidence that a free Belarus and Poland would become even closer partners in the future.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed the release of political prisoners. She thanked Poland for its principled stance and support for political prisoners and called on international partners to maintain pressure on the Lukashenka regime while continuing to support the Belarusian people. She also addressed the situation of the Polish minority in Belarus, which faces repression but continues to preserve its national identity.
Speaking about regional security, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for continued support for Ukraine, stressing that Ukraine’s victory is also vital to Belarus’s future.
At the end of her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the ceremony’s organizers, particularly Super Biznes editor-in-chief Hubert Biskupski, as well as the Polish authorities, civil society, businesses, and international partners.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Poland has always been an example for us. I believe that one day Belarus will become like Poland is today — strong, prosperous, free, and European. You have traveled your own path to freedom. Now we are traveling ours”.
