During her working visit to Italy, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a lecture at Bocconi University in Milan, one of the world’s top universities. The event gathered around 150-200 attendees, including students, academics, journalists, and Belarusians in exile. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya addressed key issues related to regional security, Belarus’ role in modern Europe, and the urgent need for decisive action to free the country from authoritarian rule.
Below are the key points from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech:
📌 Any peace must be a lasting solution, not a temporary truce
“A temporary truce would only allow Russia to regroup and attack again. Transatlantic unity is crucial as division plays into Putin’s hands. Russia seeks to exploit any weaknesses in our unity. We must not allow so-called ‘peace negotiations’ to become a tool for cementing Russian occupation. Accountability is key: Putin and his accomplices must face justice for their crimes. If they do not, they will feel emboldened to strike again and commit even more atrocities”.
📌 Belarus and Ukraine belong to Europe
“I am glad that President Zelenskyy stated that Europe’s border should be at Belarus’ eastern frontier. We fully agree because Belarus and Ukraine are part of Europe. We cannot remain behind an ‘Iron Curtain’. Eastern European countries must support each other in resisting Russian influence because we are facing the same enemy. Energy independence is critical. We must free ourselves from Russia’s energy blackmail, just as the Baltic states disconnected from the Russian energy grid. Every country must have the right to determine its own future”.
📌 Ending Belarus’ political crisis requires decisive action:
- Strong sanctions against Russia and its enablers;
- Support for democracy activists and political prisoners and harsher measures against the Putin and Lukashenka regimes;
- Recognition of democratic Belarus, rather than Lukashenka, as a legitimate partner; the regime does not represent the people;
- Support for independent media and Belarusian culture and efforts the counter Russian propaganda and protect national identity;
Humanitarian support for Belarusians in exile, including simplified residency permits, employment opportunities, and educational programs.
