Dear President Sandu,
Dear President Grybauskaite,
Dear Mrs. Danuta Hübner,
Dear friends,
Let me congratulate the organizers of this Forum. I am so proud to see so many powerful women in this room. In times of war, it is obvious that more women in politics will mean more empathy, humanity and wisdom in our decisions. These are exactly the things that we need in the world, now and ever.
As you know, it is my very first visit to Moldova. Yesterday, I had a chance to see Chisinau, meet Parliamentarians including the Рarliamentary group for Democratic Belarus. And you know what – the absolute majority of the group members are women.
No, it didn’t surprise me. I know that we, women, are much better when it comes to solidarity and coalition building.
I admire what Moldova has achieved in recent years. Here, I mean the tectonic changes in the society, participation of women, economic progress, but also – spectacular progress in European integration.
I know that President Maia Sandu and the great women of Moldova can take credit for that. It’s your success. You can be proud that it’s women who turned your country on the European path of development. And this path is irreversible. And we Belarusians can use your example as well.
Both our countries have suffered a lot during the Soviet occupation. The oppressors conducted experiments with our national identity, russified us, and suppressed any attempts of self determination.
We were raised in a Soviet patriarchal society, where the role of a woman was largely reduced to that of a wife and a mother. In politics, the presence of women was rather ceremonial, while all decisions were taken by men.
This Soviet-rooted perception of women led to the critical mistake dictator Lukashenka made in 2020, when I was registered to run for President. “Our Constitution is not for women”, he said. They registered me to make me a laughing stock.
Actually, I did not intend to go into politics. Raising my two children was my main occupation. It was not easy, as my son Karnei was hearing-impaired. I was struggling to recover his health.
I decided to run in that election out of love for my husband. When he announced that he would run for presidency, he was almost immediately arrested. I couldn’t fail Siarhei and all the people who trusted him. I felt enormous solidarity and support from Belarusian women and all Belarusians.
And you know what? I won. We all won. Imagine the dictator’s dread and humiliation: a woman, a housewife defeated him in the presidential elections.
The rest is history. It’s not so much my personal history, as that of Belarusian people and their courage. Solidarity. Creativity.
Our protest became known as the revolution with a female face. We made an alliance of three strong women – Maria Kalesnikava and Veronika Tsepkala. It took us 15 minutes to reach an agreement to join forces.
We travelled around Belarus, campaigning for change. It was an incredible feeling to see thousands come out to our rallies. For many people, it felt like we were reborn.
We rediscovered not only our national pride. We also found out how many brave, bright, talented women of all ages we have in our nation.
Women who were not afraid to face armed men on the streets. When the world saw our women in white, peacefully protesting with flowers in their hands, it wasn't just a symbolic act. It was a defiant statement.
The women of Belarus rose not only against the dictatorship. First, they had to shake off the burden of patriarchal prejudices. They did. And they led the protest.
They are our true heroines. Like Maryia Kalesnikava, who tore her passport to pieces in order not to be deported from Belarus. Like Volha Kalatskaia, who slapped a professional liar from Lukashenka’s TV in the face. Like Natallia Hersche, who tried to tear the mask from a policeman that was assaulting her. Like Katsiaryna Andreeva and Darya Chultsova, who were reporting live from a street protest, until they were brutally arrested themselves.
Unfortunately, many of these women are in prison today. Lukashenka didn’t forgive them because they proved to be more brave and more powerful than him.
There are 1500 officially recognized political prisoners in Belarus. About two hundred of them are women. They represent all ages, all regions, all walks of life. They are kept in equally harsh, inhumane conditions as men. But they don’t give up.
Human rights activist Nasta Loika defended the rights of those subjected to illegal detention, torture, and humiliation by the authorities. She ended up in prison herself. She was sentenced to seven years.
The prison administration forced her to stand in the yard without clothes for 8 hours, during winter frosts. Why? Because Nasta stood up for other prisoners who were left in the cold. Of course, Nasta got sick after that. The medical treatment was never given to her.
Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, a mother of two children, was sentenced to three years. Just last year, she spent more than 200 days in isolation, in the punishment cell. She was beaten, and her ribs were broken. She is denied treatment and medication for her liver condition. They are literally killing her. With a height of 170 cm, Palina now weighs only 47 kg. Last week, they sentenced Palina to a new prison term for the third time in a row.
Danuta Pieradnia used to be one of the best students at her university. She was just 20 years old when they arrested her and sentenced her to 6,5 years of prison. They also added her to the terrorist list. Why? Because she just reposted a message criticizing the war in Ukraine and Lukashenka’s role in it.
Today, I’ve got the good news that Aksana Aliakseeva was released. She spent one and a half years in prison for taking part in a street rally in 2020. Aksana is the leader of the United Civic Party in Minsk. The party was recently banned by the regime, just as all oppositional parties.
Dear friends,
I am sure that every woman in this room has at some time in her life experienced not to be taken for equal by men. And you have proved them wrong. Just as I have proved the dictator wrong.
There’s nothing in any public office made “for men only”… And if there is, there must be something wrong with this office, not with women.
During these three years, I have met many powerful women who by their daily work destroy any stereotypes about women in politics. Who show with their examples that women leadership is something that the world needs now.
As a newbie in politics, I have to learn by practice. And I learned many from female leaders I met. Women like president Dalia Grybauskaite. I remember her advice: never show your weakness. I am still struggling with that but I realized how patience is important when you don’t know when it is the end.
I also learned a lot from President Maia Sandu. I admire her leadership and persistence. She works so hard to help Moldova and its people to have a prosperous and safe future. I know how hard it is. It requires a lot of hard work and patience. I admire Maia’s strength. She is one of the most courageous women I have ever met.
Actually, I also learn patience from my children. They already know where their daddy is. And my daughter regularly writes letters to him, though she never receives any answers from prison.
Dear friends,
Our fight for freedom is not over. You know, freedom isn’t just a political concept. It's a deeply personal and emotional aspiration.
It's the dream of every mother who wants a better future for her children. Of every young person who wants to express their ideas without fear. And of every elder who wishes to leave behind a legacy of courage and resilience.
Today, we are fighting not only for free Belarus, but for the very existence of our country. Russia, with the help of Lukashenka, is trying to destroy our national identity and erase us from the map. But Belarus is not Russia, and Belarusians are not the regime.
Same as Moldova or Ukraine, we see the future of Belarus in the European Union. Only in the European Union can Belarus be truly safe, free and prosperous.
I know that it can be a long path, but it’s the only right one. Of course, changes in Belarus are the task of Belarusians themselves, but with your support we will reach our goal faster.
I ask you to stand with free Belarus on this path. Help us to get our country from Russian claws, and to dismantle the dictatorship. We need to isolate the regime on one hand, but to support Belarusians on the other.
Support the repressed, independent media and our activists. Provide the rehabilitation for former political prisoners, internships for Belarusian politicians, scholarships for students and scholars and residences for repressed artists.
Just recently, the regime stopped renewing passports and other legal documents to Belarusians in exile. It’s a form of revenge against everyone who dared to challenge the dictator. Half a million Belarusians in exile are at risk of becoming de-facto stateless.
Now we are working on the New Belarus passport that will solve this problem. Here, again, we are taking over a task that the state should perform. But they are too busy hunting down their enemies. By which they mean Belarusian people, who love freedom.
Dear friends,
Our struggle in Belarus isn’t unique. Across the world, in many nations, the spirit of democracy is being challenged. And while our stories may be different, our cause is universal.
It's about basic human rights, about being able to speak, think, and live without fear.
I often think of women and men back home, who are risking everything for a brighter tomorrow. Their strength inspires me daily. Their spirit, their hope even in the darkest times, is what keeps this fight alive.
To each one of you here, I ask: don't just listen to our stories, become a part of them. Engage, share, and help in whatever way you can.
In the end, we all want the same thing: a safe and free world for our children, where dreams aren’t stifled, and voices aren't silenced.
Thank you for standing with Belarus. Thank you for believing in our dream.
