On May 22, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is taking part in the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague — one of the key international platforms focused on security and democracy. She delivered a keynote speech at the panel “Defending Democracy’s Frontline Defenders: Journalists, Activists & the Threat of Transnational Repression”.
In her speech, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya outlined the scale of the threat: “The problem of transnational repression is growing. It is no longer limited to one country. It is becoming a new challenge for international security. Dictatorships are evolving, and they are learning from one another. They exchange technologies, methods, surveillance tools, and intimidation tactics. They cooperate globally against democracy”.
She stressed that Belarusians remain under pressure even in exile: “Even after fleeing dictatorship, you may still not be safe. Even with international protection or refugee status, you are not fully secure. The regime can still threaten your family. Cancel your passport. Monitor you. Hack your phone. Open criminal cases against you. Abuse Interpol mechanisms. Spread propaganda about you. Or even physically attack you abroad”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya therefore called on democratic countries to take concrete action: “First, democratic countries must recognize transnational repression as a serious security threat. Second, we need better protection for journalists, activists, political refugees, and diaspora communities. Third, we need faster legal procedures and documentation for people fleeing authoritarian regimes. Fourth, there must be consequences for perpetrators: sanctions, criminal investigations, visa bans, and accountability. Fifth, we must deny dictatorships access to international mechanisms such as Interpol. And finally, democracies must cooperate much more closely. Because dictators already do”.
