Members of the Polish Parliament, representatives of the government, the Belsat TV channel, independent media, and Belarusian NGOs working in Poland took part in the event.
- Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech:
“Dear Friends,
Thank you for organizing this exhibition. The peoples of Belarus and Poland are united by our common history, culture, as well as common heroes. The heroes include Kastus Kalinowski, Tadeusz Kastsiushka, Adam Mitskevich, and Uladzislau Syrakomlia.
Andrzej Poczobut, currently held hostage by the Lukashenka regime, is among those heroes. Andrzej is a man of honor. He never gave up. He refused to make a deal with the dictator and ask for pardon. When the trial began, you could see him in a cage. Even while in prison, in his heart, he remains a free man.
He shared the truth despite knowing he could be arrested. He has displayed courage for many Belarusians and symbolized the Belarus-Poland friendship.
Through Andrzej Poczobut, the regime is trying to take revenge on Poland for supporting democratic Belarus. Lukashenka is trying to destroy our ties with Poland. The Polish minority is under constant attack by the regime. Polish schools and Polish classes are being closed down. And the regime is fighting against both the living and the dead. They keep destroying cemeteries and monuments to Polish soldiers in Belarus.
Now the regime is fighting not only the Polish but also all of Belarus. Belarusian culture, language, and civil society have also been subjected to unprecedented repression. Our mission is to prevent the regime from destroying and destroying our culture and identity.
I believe that Belarusian political prisoners will be released, including Andrzej Poczobut, who has been kept behind bars for 670 days. I believe that all the perpetrators will be in the dock. I believe that Belarus will become a free, independent, and European country.
We are extremely grateful to the organizers of the exhibition, the Polish Sejm, and the Polish government.
Thank you for helping us in our struggle for freedom”.
