“Dear Members of the Senate,
Thank you very much for inviting me to speak about the courageous people of Belarus and their fight for dignity. I am extremely honored to share our story with you, brave Czech people, who know what it means to fight for democracy, freedom, and national identity. Vaclav Havel frequently spoke out against the postelection crackdown in Belarus. He was among those world leaders who always drew the attention of the international community to the violations of human rights and electoral standards in Belarus.
The Czech Republic is among those Central European countries that will always be an inspiration for Belarusians. And we will always remember your role in keeping the question of Belarus high on the agenda by holding public discussions on Belarus, helping victims of torture, and supporting Belarusian students and researchers.
As part of the Medevac program, the Czech Republic has so far taken care of 43 Belarusians who have been injured or persecuted by the Lukashenko regime. Patients’ injuries include both physical and psychological trauma, such as gunshot wounds, multiple bone fractures, as well as eye and ear injuries resulting from grenade explosions. Some patients even bear signs of torture.
On behalf of all Belarusians, I would like to express my gratitude for your priceless support in those difficult times for the Belarusian people.
Belarusians have been protesting for over 7 months by rallying, organizing flash mobs, local tea parties, painting murals, signing, and marching for freedom. This summer all of us understood what it means to live under fear, oppression, lawlessness, and state terror against all forms of free-thinking. We do not want to live like this anymore. We are determined to continue our fight for our country and our rights are given to us at birth.
As of today, 269 persons in Belarus are recognized as political prisoners. More than 2000 are facing or faced criminal charges for their political position. More than 32000 were detained for participating in protest rallies. Prisoners behind the bars are at the risk of being infected with COVID-19 and are deprived of minimal medical help.
Our demands remain the same. Aliaksandr Lukashenka should start negotiations on the peaceful transition of power and resign. All the political prisoners and detainees should be released and rehabilitated. All those government agents who committed crimes under national and international law must be brought to justice. New free and fair elections shall be organized as soon as possible.
I promised back in August to organize a new free and fair election and now I am bound by the will of millions of Belarusians to bring this day closer. It will be a historical moment for Belarusians to finally head to the polls and know that their votes matter and will be counted like in other free countries. This can be achieved only with the help of the international community.
The Czech Republic shall keep putting pressure on the regime and make it clear that there is no return possible to “business as usual” as long as Lukashenka is in power.
Czech businesses shall stop their collaboration with Belarus state companies which transformed into main donors of Lukashenka’s regime. Fair business must condition their collaboration with Lukashenka’s state or stop doing that.
The Czech Republic together with the other EU Member States shall ensure that all those responsible for human rights violations are included on sanctions lists. At the national level, the Czech Republic can proceed, where possible, with the universal jurisdiction to bring to justice those responsible for crimes against Belarusians.
The EU with other international partners shall organize an investigation into Lukashenka's family assets abroad and they must be frozen.
It is crucial for all the EU Member states to reroute their cooperation with Belarus to the civil society and provide aid directly to the Belarusian people.
I also call on the EU Member States to prepare an action plan for the future of New Belarus. We will need Czech support, in particular, for a smooth economic and political transition, including democratic institutions building. All European diplomats in Belarus shall continue helping people on the ground and showing their solidarity with the Belarusian cause.
I encourage Czech politicians, researchers, activists, and all those who would like to support Belarusians to participate in actions of Solidarity with Belarus. Show your support to Belarusians by celebrating with us our “Freedom Day” on the 25th of March when Belarusian Independence was proclaimed in 1918. Write letters to political prisoners, join our actions of solidarity with Belarus worldwide.
Thank you for standing on the side of the people of Belarus.
Long live Belarus!”.
