In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the international community to vigorously defend democratic values and support Belarus and Ukraine. She noted that Ukraine is fighting both for its territory and values shared by all democratic countries.
She noted that it is crucial to be prepared for a new window of opportunities once it opens. Ukraine's successes will weaken the regimes of Putin and Lukashenka, thus giving Belarusians a chance for a democratic transition. The international community needs a strategy for Belarus to free it from dependence on the Kremlin and help democratic forces steer the country toward democracy. Tsikhanouskaya urged not to abandon Belarus.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the importance of supporting independent media and launching Belarusian services at BBC, Deutsche Welle, and other broadcasters. She highlighted the significance of the Radio Liberty service in Belarus and stressed that independent media help Belarusians learn the truth about the situation within the country despite the regime's attempts to isolate society.
She discussed the need to collaborate with major technology companies and noted the positive experience of working with Google, which supports independent media and helps uncover propaganda and disinformation. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for utilizing all platforms and social networks for communication with people in Belarus.
