“Dear excellencies,
Dear friends,
Dear Minister Mantas Adomėnas, Minister Czaputowicz,
Honorable Oleksandra Ustinova Honorable Steve Cohen,
It’s an honor for me to be here.
Two years ago, Belarus rose up against the bloody dictatorship that has been destroying the country for 27 years. Thousands of people took to the streets, not because of economic or social problems, but first and foremost because they wanted self-respect, democratic freedoms. They wanted a real independent state.
In 2020 Belarusians decisively chose their future – that of a free European nation. But with the help of Vladimir Putin, the dictator trampled over the people's choice. A free and independent Belarus terrified both dictators. They needed a political desert from which to launch missiles at Ukraine and threaten peace in Europe.
Our story is an example of resilience and unity that Belarusians have shown in the face of repression. Over 50.000 of illegal detentions and 4000 years of stolen life for political prisoners made Belarusians face fear, but it has not divided us.
We’ve stayed united against the full force of Lukashenka’s repression since 2020. In 2022, we united in helping Ukraine to win. 86% of Belarusians are against Belarus participation in Russia’s war. You may have heard stories of our railway partisans who stopped Russian trains. Dozens of them face up to 20 years of prison and some face the death penalty.
We keep our fingers crossed for our military volunteers in Ukraine. 15 lost their lives already. As I speak a Belarusian battalion is part of Ukraines counteroffensive, chasing the invaders away. We all understand that the speed of changes at the Ukrainian front opens new opportunities for Belarus. It’s moving so fast.
So must we.
To stay united and resilient, we have created the United Transition Cabinet as the central executive body of the Belarusian democratic movement. This will remain until new elections are held. The Cabinet includes the representatives of major political groups and will represent the interests of Belarusian people.
We are working tirelessly to set out our Belarusian vision to leave the decades of darkness behind and create a bright future… A nation reborn.
I am here to share it with you.
We see democratic Belarus as the centerpiece of European security. We are a country that will be valued for friendship towards its neighbors, cooperating on regional security – no longer a dark and threatening cloud hanging over the region.
We also see a path to get there. Today, we have what we lacked in 2020:
- First, we have a united population which is even less supportive of the regime than in 2020 and disgusted by the war.
- Second, we have crumbling economic prospects for the regime due to sanctions.
- Third, we were unable to crack the officials and security apparatus in 2020. But now, for the first time ever, we have trained Belarusian units in Ukraine. And as you can see, Lukashenka is very afraid of them.
- Fourth, we have a distracted Russia, that is about to lose this war. It won't be able to prop Lukashenka up with money and military support as in 2020.
- Fifth, we have united and experienced Belarusian democratic leadership that has a broad coalition of friends. We have you!
Right now is our window of opportunity. Right now is our time to act. We are preparing tirelessly but we can’t be fully prepared without your help.
Right now is when Belarus should be on the top of any international meeting agenda, along with Ukraine.
It became clear there will not be safe Ukraine, and there will not be safe Europe without free Belarus.
Belarus is not only part of the problem, it is also part of the solution.
I am thankful to Poland, Lithuania, the EU and the United States for being our devoted supporters.
Thanks to your consistent position, Lukashenka’s regime was isolated, and civil society and independent media resumed their work. But more can be done.
- First, distinguish Belarusians from the regime. We call it a two-sided approach: Punish the dictator, but help the people. We should keep Belarusians in European orbit, keep and strengthen ties between the people of Belarus and the rest of Europe. Visa ban on Belarusians is not a solution. Instead, consider closing loopholes, so Lukashenka and Putin cannot avoid sanctions.
- Second, we should maintain and expand our coalition. I was at UNGA last week. Unfortunately, the rest of the world has very little understanding of what’s happening in Belarus and Ukraine. Secure Europe is in the interest of the world – as the gas, grain, and migrant crisis have shown. Europe can’t be safe with two rogue states in the East running around bullying neighbours and threatening nuclear war.
- Third, we also need Ukrainian support. No aid delivery can help Ukraine as much as eliminating 1000 km of Belarus-Ukraine hostile border to defend. We should work together on building an alliance between Ukraine and democratic Belarus. We ask Ukraine to establish cooperation with the United Transitional Cabinet.
We realize that nobody apart from Belarusians can bring changes to Belarus – we learned to be self-sufficient. We learned it is a marathon. Our independence, our security and democracy are for us to ensure. But we want you to stand with us and our vision.
Dear friends,
Let’s remind ourselves: Unlike the thousands behind bars, we have the freedom to act.
Not to fake deep concerns, but to make a real difference. Now it’s our turn. Now is the time for us to lead.
Thank you! Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!”
