“Dear Vice President Věra Jourová, Pavla Holcová, participants of Vaclav Havel European Dialogues,
I'm ashamed to admit this, but until 2020, I didn't know a lot about Vaclav Havel.
Until 2020, I wasn’t involved in politics just as many other Belarusians.
Of course, I followed the news, mostly on social networks. But it was always so far away, and I did not feel that I was in power to change anything. I think Havel could not stand people like myself before 2020. We were simply apolitical. Of course, later I realized my own responsibility for prolonging the dictatorship.
In 2020, everything changed in Belarus. Revolution. My husband was imprisoned exactly two years ago. I remember the moment when I suddenly faced the choice between standing up for my husband and retreating. I am still surprised with myself: I did not hesitate for a second. Politics came into my life at the very moment when I had to make a choice.
Society matures when it becomes ready to make its choices. As I did then. We matured. Belarusians made a choice in 2020 – in favor of democracy, human rights, and a European future. And this choice is irreversible.
Vaclav Havel's legacy came into my life with politics. I remember my first visit to Brussels. I was so worried. One of my first meetings was a meeting with Vera Yurava. A large portrait of Vaclav Havel hung over the table. She then told me about Havel and what he means for Czechs.
Later I learned that Havel played an important role not only for Czechs but also for Belarusians. He was perhaps the biggest advocate for Belarus political prisoners. I think if Havel had been here with us, he would have led the campaign for their release. Vaclav Havel’s last letter was a letter to Belarusian political prisoners. And I am eternally grateful to him for his stance.
In 2020, many experts, politicians quoted Havel when describing the events in Belarus, our peaceful way of struggle. He always believed in us even when nobody did. It’s spectacular that Vaclav Havel saw in Belarusians a potential that many of us did not see or feel.
Vaclav Havel was a big supporter of independent media. I just learned yesterday that one he dedicated and donated one of his awards to Nasha Niva, Belarusian democratic newspaper. This spring, two editors of Nasha Niva were sentenced 2,5 years of prison each, another is still under prosecution, the staff managed to flee the country and are working from abroad now.
It’s Vaclav Havel who invited Radio Free Europe to come to Prague. The Belarus Service of RFE/RL played a crucial role in the Belarus uprising in 2020. It conducted live streams from the rallies of Siarhei, my husband, and they were watched by hundreds of thousands. Correspondents of RFE/RL chose to stay in Belarus even when amid the complete terror of 2021. It's not hard to guess where they are now. Aleh Hruzdzilovich got one and a half years of prison. Radio Liberty consultant, Ihar Losik got 15 years of prison.
If Havel were with us today, he would be proud of the courage of the Belarusians. Of course, he would be proud of our peaceful protests. He would cheer the bravery demonstrated by Belarusians when supporting Ukraine. Belarusians disrupted railways, and soldiers refused to cross the border. Just think about it: More than 80 acts of sabotage on railways in 2 months! In part thanks to Belarusians, the Russian army gave up on plans to take Kyiv. Who could imagine that after the terror of 2020 and 2021, such resistance could be possible at all?
Belarusians refused the very idea of Russian revanchism. 86% of Belarusians claimed they were against Belarus taking part in this war. Despite heavy brainwashing and propaganda. We made our choice clear, even when a like on Instagram or a yellow-and-blue hair ribbon is enough to be imprisoned.
Despite the repressions, many Belarusians could not stand back. Let me tell you a story of one of them. It is the story of 19-year-old Tsimur, who participated in protests in 2020. He was beaten by Lukashenka's thugs after the elections and spent weeks in a coma. His mother couldn't stand the shock and died while we was still unconscious. Tsimur survived and managed to flee to the Czech Republic. And I have to tell you, fleeing Belarus is a risky quest: people run through forests and swamps. When the war started, he joined the Belarus Battalion of Kastus Kalinouski and now defends Ukraine alongside Ukrainian soldiers. He believes that Ukrainian victory could give him a chance to return to Belarus.
Just like Tsimur, we understand that the fates of Belarusian and Ukrainian people are interdependent now. We, in Belarus, understand that there will not be free Belarus without free Ukraine, and without free Belarus there will not be safe Ukraine. That's why, just like Tsimur, Belarusians are doing whatever they can to bring common peace and freedom for us all – be it joining the ranks of Ukrainian defenders, reporting movement of military equipment or donating to Ukrainian refugees. Both of our nations are striving to defend a shared future in a common European family.
I believe Vaclav Havel was right when he insisted that Belarus belongs in the European family. We are proving it with our actions. However, right now as the new iron curtain falls down on Europe, we should make sure that Belarus ends up on the right side of history.
Just like Vaclav Havel was a visionary and a believer in democratic change, I urge you to become visionaries as well. I urge you to use your voice to advocate for our common freedom and future. I firmly agree with Havel when he said, “nothing is more powerful than individuals acting out of their own conscience”. In trying times like now, we should follow his advice.
Thank you!”
