On March 18th, 2021, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya started preparations for negotiations with international mediation to overcome the political crisis in Belarus and called Belarusians for electronic voting.
Belarusians are asked to vote via platform “Voice” (“Golos”) to authorize Tsikhanouskaya to prepare a negotiation process with regime’s representatives for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Belarus. The first results of the votes will be announced on Freedom Day in Belarus taking place on March 25th.
Negotiations should be scheduled for May. The leader of democratic Belarus believes that these negotiations will lead to a new free and fair election this fall. As a precondition, the demands of the people and democratic forces remain the same: the regime must stop violence and release and rehabilitate all political prisoners. Tsikhanouskaya expects that international organizations such as the OSCE or UN will offer mediation, a calendar of negotiations, and a platform for dialogue. The negotiations will be supported by international leaders and institutions.
The current crisis in Belarus has one reason: a rigged presidential election. On August 9, 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya reportedly won the election. Lukashenka lost the election and falsified the results, refusing to leave his post. Since that day, Belarusians have been peacefully protesting against the state terror, repressions, fighting for democracy and freedom. The basic contradiction at the core of the crisis is that the former president is trying to stay in power against the will of the voters. To resolve this contradiction, a new free and fair presidential election needs to be held on the basis of negotiations.
The full speech by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya:
“Dear Belarusians!
Today, I am going to make an important announcement. I want everyone to hear it and get involved. Each of you who knows: the Belarusians have not accepted the situation, the Belarusians carry on protesting, they are preparing street rallies and are not going to give up.
I, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader elected by the people of Belarus, announce the beginning of nationwide voting. Each of you knows that our country is in crisis. We can resolve it peacefully — by means of internationally mediated negotiations. We launch this voting not instead of street protests, we do it alongside street protests.
Why does it matter to vote?
The cause of the crisis is that the man who lost the election maintains his grip on the power. He refused to step down, spitting in the face of millions of Belarusians. He is trying to rule the country through violence and repression, although even these measures have not forced us to obey him.
And now we have businesses being closed, prices rising, whilst pensions and salaries dropping. Investors and trade partners are leaving Belarus. And most importantly, nobody feels safe in the country. In their homes, people startle when they hear noises at the door. And they fear being summoned to their bosses because they expect every time their contracts will not be renewed. At this cost, the former president is holding on to power. And it is you and me who pay this price.
On the eve of 25 March, Lukashenko began to threaten us with a civil war, saying he would involve the army in suppressing the protests. It is a step of fear and despair. After all, he has already lost the support of his people — but now he is losing the support of even his allies. And he is panicking because he realizes he can no longer rely on the MIA.
The way he has chosen to run the country will inevitably lead to his departure. But we are not willing to wait.
Why? Because he is open to sacrificing people as much as he likes. And we're not.
Therefore, we choose not weapons but non-violent protest and an honest voice. And the more our voices, the louder our demand sounds to the world: to solve the crisis peacefully and without further sacrifices.
Because a vote for negotiation is a vote to save the hundreds of prisoners suffering in prison for their opinions.
It is a step towards a state where people and their views are respected. Where wages and prices are fair.
And crucially, it is a clear message to international partners to take action.
We are launching this voting in order to negotiate with those representatives of the regime who are ready to think about the future and make mature decisions, rather than prolong the crisis to total disaster. Such people exist.
And they need negotiations as much as we do — because violence and lawlessness have worsened their lives too.
There are many scenarios about how the situation will develop in Belarus. And all of them — even the very scary, long, and forceful ones — will inevitably lead to negotiations. The only question is at what cost. We are already witnessing the collapse of the economy — and we do not want to find ourselves under the wreckage. So we must act now.
Negotiations are a universal tool that has enabled many countries and peoples to stand up for themselves. This would mean a series of meetings at different levels. Negotiating groups from different sides will be able to work out solutions on how to get our country out of the crisis — without allowing more victims and without making secret deals. This is what we need international mediation for.
To make this announcement, I’ve spent seven months working with foreign politicians and organizations, talking about the real situation in Belarus and gaining support, putting together a strong professional team. All of them are on our side. And the time has come to benefit from this support.
Your votes will help us to get decisive steps from the international structures — the OSCE and the UN. They are ready to organize a platform and act as mediators as well as to force the regime to negotiate.
Most importantly, our votes will regain our sense of unity, majority, and power. Before negotiations begin, we will strengthen our negotiating position: through protests and campaigns of civil disobedience.
We will mobilize all our resources so that the regime will not have enough strength or money to survive the second wave of protest. We will elaborate a package of solutions as to how to maintain security during the transition period, stabilize the economy and prepare new presidential elections.
We will form a negotiating group and expand our “Dialogue” program to involve civil servants and security forces.
Before March 25th, together with the Coordination Council, ByPol, Solidarity Foundations, and other democratic forces, we are launching major voting on the “Golos” platform.
Our common task is to make sure that every responsible Belarusian casts a vote, so we will see the first results by Freedom Day.
How can you do it?
Install the “Golos” platform chatbot or vote straight away if you have it already installed. It's anonymous and secure. “Golos” data is trusted everywhere. It is cited by the European Union, the OSCE, the US, and many others. The world understands that today it is one of the feasible ways to make our demands known.
When you have done it yourself, tell your neighbors about the ballot. Contact your parents and grandparents — and help them submit their votes. Share the call to vote on your social networks. Print and hang a leaflet in the elevator, send the link to the “Golos” website to colleagues.
We have to do it together — as we did during the election last summer when we took our destiny into our own hands. And now it is time to see it through to the end.
It is up to us together to build the New Belarus — and no one will do it for us”.
