Dear Bartek, thank you for your kind introduction! And congratulations on the successful forum this year.
Perhaps, it’s the first time in the history of the Warsaw Security Forum when we have a separate panel discussion on Belarus. And I am proud to have such distinguished speakers as ambassador Carpenter, Mr. Doughty, and the representative of the United Transitional Cabinet Alina Koushyk.
We have established the United Transitional Cabinet to ensure the transition of Belarus to democracy, and it includes all major political forces of Belarus. It represents the interests of Belarusians, both in the country and in exile.
When the full-scale war started, and Lukashenka became Putin’s accomplice, the role of the Cabinet became critical. It became an institutional alternative to the regime in Minsk. It shows the difference between the Belarusian people and Lukashenka.
Sometimes, I hear from foreign politicians that Belarus is a lost case, and we should focus on Ukraine only. It’s a mistake. The fates of Belarus and Ukraine are intertwined. Without Belarus, Russia’s war against Ukraine becomes pointless. If our revolution succeeded in 2020, the war would probably never have started. This is why Putin holds his grip on Belarus so strongly, and this is why Putin supports Lukashenka so much.
However, Belarus is also Putin’s weakest link. The regime in Minsk is vulnerable, fragile, and could not stand any significant blow. Belarusian society is united in opposition to the war. We saw it last year, when Belarusian partisans sabotaged the Russian military, and Lukashenka failed to conduct mobilization. If Belarusian troops were ordered to join the war, they would turn against Lukashenka himself. Any unrest in Belarus can spark unrest in Russia too, as it happened in 2020. So let’s see Belarus as an opportunity, not only a problem.
In 2020, the geopolitical choice was not on the agenda. People protested against the tyranny. We were fighting for democracy. Now, we are also fighting for our independence, and for the very survival of Belarus as a nation. And it can be possible only if Belarus becomes part of the European Union. Belarus, same as Ukraine, can not have any future with Russia.
Therefore, in August all political groups in Belarus made a joint declaration about the European choice for Belarus. Membership in the European Union is our ultimate goal. We share all the values that the European Union stands for – rule of law, respect for every individual, for human lives and human rights, freedom of speech.
Today, Belarusians’ European vision of the future is the main enemy of Lukashenka within the country. He uses the tactics of scorched earth to completely erase this vision from Belarusians’ heads and hearts. Anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian propaganda, new wave of russification, proclaiming everything Belarusian “extremist”, judicial revenge against everyone who dares to reject the dictator’s dream of Belarus as a Russian colony. This is what takes place in Belarus. The past is trying to re-conquest the future.
Russian expansion in Belarus is accompanied with massive repressions. There are at least fifteen hundred political prisoners, about 20 people are arrested daily. They are held in inhuman conditions, tortured, denied proper medical care and slowly killed. Some have already died.
The regime is paranoid about the slightest signs of dissent. Terrorist groups like GUBOPiK function as political police without any legal restrictions. They are free to do whatever they want. The regime changes from authoritarian to totalitarian.
Repressions reach not only people inside the country but also in exile. First, they deprived Belarusians abroad of electoral rights. Now, the regime refused to renew passports in its consulates. At the same time, people can’t go back because of repressions. Very soon we might have hundreds of thousands of Belarusians without legal documents, facing deportation. To solve this problem, next year, we are going to issue our own passports, and will be seeking their international recognition.
We keep on working in several key directions: pressuring the regime by sanctions, bringing its cronies to justice, fighting the propaganda, supporting the Belarusian society and political prisoners, building a resilient democratic movement, strengthening Belarusian national identity, getting ready for the transition of power, creating a functional alternative to the current dysfunctional system.
We are working to show Belarusians the alternative to the corrupt regime, to show that another Belarus can exist — peaceful, democratic, and prosperous.
We are doing all possible to bring us closer to this goal: the future European Belarus. And if the European Union and the democratic countries support us on this path, I’m sure that we will reach our destination. Let’s work together to bring this moment closer.
It is not only for our benefit. I believe that democratic Belarus has a lot to offer Europe, just as we have contributed to European civilization for centuries. To have peace and security, we need free Belarus just as we need victory for Ukraine.
To make Europe complete, it must include the people of Belarus.
Thank you.
