“Vice-President Margrethe Vestager,
Secretary General Marija Buric,
Thank you for inviting me to take part in this discussion, and many thanks to Karel Lannoo for organizing and moderating it. It is an honor for me to speak here at the celebration of one of Europe's most important think tanks in the name of the millions of Belarusians that I represent.
I want to congratulate you on CEPS's 40th anniversary and to thank you for all the great work that you've been doing all these years.
I guess that 40 years ago, nobody could really foresee the brilliant future awaiting Europe. 40 years ago, the Eastern half of the continent was still dominated by Communism. Nothing could predict the collapse of the Soviet empire.
This is the nature of every dictatorship. They seem to be invincible, until they suddenly fall. Authoritarian regimes are doomed to collapse.
And yet, Russian imperialism is once again trying to raise its head over Europe. One of its victims is Ukraine, and Belarus is another. But it will fail. Our nations learned the lessons of history, and will not allow dictators to return us under their yoke.
The Belarusian Uprising of 2020, and then the war in Ukraine, changed Belarusians a lot. People clearly chose democracy over dictatorship, freedom over tyranny, and Europe over Russia.
In 2020, there was no geopolitical choice on the table, we were simply demanding free elections. We realized that geopolitical choice and democracy are interconnected. There can be no free elections under the heel of the Russian empire.
When the war started, it became evident that Europe means safety, and Russia means war. People fleeing repression did not go to Russia but to Europe, and they found a safe haven there.
Even Lukashenka's electorate is beginning to understand that we are not Russians, and we don’t want to share our future with an aggressor.
A few days ago, western journalists published leaked documents on the Russian plan to absorb Belarus by 2030. We can’t confirm the authenticity of the papers, but it is evident that Russia already started to subjugate Belarus by political, economic and military means.
And Lukashenka is playing a key role in this process. He trades Belarusian sovereignty in exchange for Putin’s support. All of this happens against the will of the Belarusian people.
Despite all the regime's and Russia's attempts to isolate our country and cut connections with Europe, Belarusians don’t give up their fight for Europe and European values. Despite repression, people continued to resist, though their protest went underground.
The regime also announced a war on Belarusian culture, language, and Belarusian identity. Because, in some sense, Belarusianness also means Europeanness. We see how they rewrite our history textbooks, and how propaganda works, trying to convince us that the place of Belarus is in Russia. But the place of Belarus is in Europe.
Before 2020, Belarusians were leaders in the number of Schengen visas issued per capita. Belarusians were studying in European universities, building ties, and seeing what their life could be like. It led to irreversible changes in Belarusian society.
The European aspirations of Belarusians must be supported. Belarusians must see that they are welcomed, indeed expected in Europe. Belarusians must see that Europe distinguishes the regime from the people, and Belarusians from Russians.
Europe must adopt a dual-side strategy towards Belarus:
- On the one hand, keep the doors open to Belarusians: support civil society, issue visas, and embrace refugees.
- And on the other hand, isolate all those who stand with the regime and support the war.
We should work with those who hesitate and bring them to our side.
Our fight is not only the fight between tyranny and democracy, it is also the fight between the past and the future. We should not let dictators, who dragged us into the dark past, to blackmail or scare us about the future. European commitment to support Belarus’ transition to democracy would be an effective response. It would give people confidence.
Lukashenka's regime is much more vulnerable than it might seem. It is like a chair with three legs. He rests on repression, money and the support of the Kremlin. Knock out one of them, and it will collapse.
I know that sanctions are not the silver bullet. But sanctions can help to break the legs of the regime – deprive the regime of resources and weaken Russia. Sanctions can help to release our political prisoners from jail, but they need workable mechanism and enforcement. While the regime is able to evade them, sanctions won’t have any effect.
Dear friends,
We are not asking you to return Belarus to Europe. Belarus is already in Europe, and it always has been. We have proved our right to live with European values every day since 2020.
Every time a banned flag is raised. Every time a protester goes to the street. Every time a Russian plane or train is sabotaged, – with every act of resistance, Belarusians move closer to their European future.
Recently, we have taken important steps in the Council of Europe, and I would like to thank Madam Secretary General Maria Buric for helping us. We have created a contact group between Belarus and the Council of Europe. This is the very first step in bringing Belarus to full membership in the Council of Europe, which also means – bringing us closer to Europe.
We are working on drafting reforms and a new democratic Constitution that will ensure that dictatorship and tyranny will never return to our country.
“Thinking ahead for Europe” is the motto of CEPS. Thinking for Europe also means thinking of the millions in Belarusia who desire and deserve a better future within the European family.
40 years from now, I can envision a strong united and prosperous Europe, the source of stability and peace on this planet. This is the Europe we dream about. And Belarus must be a part of this Europe in order for us to survive.
The intellectual capital and vibrant creativity of the Belarusian people, together with their moral strength, will be an important contribution to building our common European home.
To make this European dream come true tomorrow, we have to act with courage today.
Thank you”.
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