During her working trips, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya strives to communicate with young people. We’ve gathered some interesting reflections from the leader during these conversations on what she regrets about her own youth, what she would have done differently, and what advice she would give to her 17-year-old self:
📌 “Think critically, take action right now, and don’t assume adults know better and will do everything for you. You are the future of your country; you are the ones who bear responsibility for it”.
📌 “You all have different personalities and skills, but I want you to always remember that it’s better to be on the right side of history, not on the side of the devil. The world is very complex, and you may have to make tough decisions; you may be disappointed, but stay on the side of good. Always think twice – look within yourself”.
📌 “When life puts you in situations where you need to show all your character, strength, and activism – do it! Don’t stop!”
📌 “What advice would I give to my 17-year-old self? To be more interested in my country, its history, and culture. To be more engaged in politics and what’s happening in the world, not just in the immediate surroundings”.
📌 “Perhaps I regret that we didn’t prepare the world for our uprising in 2020. I regret that we allowed Lukashenka to entrench himself so deeply in power and build his massive repressive and militarized system. But on the other hand, he has lost touch with reality, with the people, and now completely misunderstands the Belarusian nation. I could regret many things but what matters is that I’m thinking about how to strengthen, improve, and correct our situation now”.
