“Dear friends,
Дарагія сябры,
Let me congratulate you on the opening of Radio Liberty’s office in Vilnius and express my gratitude on behalf of all Belarusians who strive for freedom and democracy.
I am sure that this office will open new opportunities for Belarusian journalism and the entire democratic movement. Indeed the success of our movement is hard to imagine without Radio Liberty’s endless fight for the truth.
Dear Mr President Gitanas Nausėda,
Madam Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen,
Belarusians will never forget the constant support and solidarity, that you have demonstrated since 2020. You are not just reliable neighbors, you are real friends who opened your doors and gave refuge to thousands of Belarusians fleeing repressions and war.
You have drawn a clear line between Lukashenka’s criminal regime and the Belarusian people who oppose the state terror and who also help Ukraine.
It’s also thanks to you that Belarus remains on the world’s agenda. Lithuania became the driving force of strategic decisions for security and democratic changes in our region.
Although there are no direct military clashes right now in Belarus, but our territory is used for the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The regime is trying to suppress all alternative voices and replace them with Kremlin propaganda. It would open the pathway for Russia's creeping occupation of our country. Therefore, support for independent media is a matter of security and our nation's very survival.
Dear Ambassador Robert S. Gilchrist,
Dear Mr Jamie Fly,
Jeff Gedmin,
Gintare Zukaite-Zelenkiene,
Radio Liberty is more than just a media outlet for Belarusians.
During the Soviet times, Radio Liberty was among the first to tell the truth about Stalin's repressions and to inspire people to fight for freedom and establish their own independence.
Through all these years, you set a high bar for Belarusian journalism. Your brilliant reporting, political analysis, and innovative video production was always professional and in high demand among Belarusians. I know that even the regime’s officials could never ignore your work and were forced to react to your coverage.
Without Radio Liberty, it would be very difficult to keep the Belarusian national identity. You always spoke Belarusian. Many Belarusians studied the Belarusian language through your programs. You reminded Belarusians their real history and culture. And every book from Liberty’s Library is a real treasure for our nation.
It is also impossible to imagine our uprising in 2020 without Radio Liberty. Millions of Belarusians watched the broadcasts of Svaboda from the protests. When Siarhei was detained, it was broadcasted live on Radio Svaboda, and these news immediately spread around the world..
I will never forget the work and courage of your reporters. You continued your work even when the regime cracked down on your office in Minsk. Andrei Kuznechyk, Ihar Losik, Aleh Hruzdzilovich were taken hostage by the regime.
While I am speaking here, the absurd so-called trial against the chief-editor of prominent news portal TUT.by Maryna Zolatava and its director Lyudmila Chekina is going on. The regime takes revenge on all those who dare to tell the truth.
Let me assure you, we will not stop until Ihar and Andrei, Maryna and Lyudmila, all imprisoned journalists and thousands of innocent Belarusians are released.
Dear journalists,
Today, you are writing a new page of Belarusian history. Thank you for being the voice of all those oppressed. Thank you for being the voice of all those who fight. Thank you for being the voice of truth and justice. Your contribution to democratic change is invaluable.
You bring us closer to the long-awaited victory of democracy and peace. To the victory of truth over propaganda, and freedom over tyranny.
Needless to say, that the victory of democratic Belarus will be also the victory of Ukraine, of Lithuania, and indeed of the whole world. It will be the victory of light over darkness.
I wish all of us courage and patience on this important and difficult path.
Thank you for walking this path together.
Long live Belarus! Жыве Беларусь!”
