“Dear Madam President Čmilyte-Nielsen, members of the Seimas and the Government of Lithuania, representatives of civil society, dear friends of free Belarus.
It is a great honor to speak here before you today. I would like to begin my speech by thanking Lithuania and the Lithuanian people.
Lithuania has become very close to us. You know, sometimes it seems as if gratitude is something we take for granted. But let me take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude on behalf of all Belarusians. We feel your support every day. We appreciate it very much, although sometimes we forget to say so. Your support goes beyond formal statements, words of concern. Many thousands of Belarusian families have found temporary refuge in Lithuania to escape repression. Vilnius has sheltered me and my children.
In 2020, when the regime began to threaten my children, I took the decision to take them to Lithuania. Later, I moved there myself when I had to choose between my children and prison. Why Lithuania? Because Lithuania means safety, because Lithuania means friends. In the last year and a half, I have never once encountered a negative attitude towards Belarusians. Only words of support, solidarity.
Like many Belarusians, I had little interest in politics or history before 2020. A lot of things amazed me. Our common history also amazed me. Walking around Vilnius, you feel that connection very much. This is the building where Nasha Niva, one of the first Belarusian newspapers, was published, and this is where our compatriot Skaryna published the first printed book in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania 500 years ago. By the way, I would also like to thank the Seimas for declaring this year the Year of Francysk Skaryna. Unfortunately, my nation does not currently have a parliament that has the legitimacy or the moral courage to make the same decision, so I am grateful to the Seimas for holding that flag high for us, the Belarusian people.
From time to time, I also visit the Rasos cemetery. It is a pilgrimage destination for Belarusians. Unfortunately, I did not come at the funeral of Kalinouski in 2019, but I know that thousands of Belarusians came. That foreshadowed our revolution in 2020. Now, the name of Kastus Kalinouski has been given to the Belarusian regiment defending Ukraine.
Lithuania has become a hub for many organizations of Belarusian civil society, Belarusian students, Belarusian culture and Belarusian business. Lithuania has hosted the European Humanities University, which trains the elite for the new Belarus. It has also provided support for Belarusian students studying at Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University, and others. Lithuania also regularly supports Belarusian academic events and conferences, such as the International Congress of Belarusian Studies.
For many years, Vilnius has been home to the Belarusian House of Human Rights,, the Francysk Skaryna Belarusian Gymnasium, the Ivan Lutskevich Belarusian Museum in Vilnius, the Belarusian St. Bartholomew's Church in Užupis, the Guda Cultural Society – I could go on and on. Recently, the Belarusian Community and Cultural Center at 20 Vilniaus street, the Belarusian Service of Radio Liberty, and other Belarusian centers have also been opened in Vilnius. Lithuania has also welcomed many Belarusian IT companies, including giants such as EPAM and Wargaming. And this is not just an example of good neighborliness, this is a huge contribution to the future bilateral relations between our countries.
Belarusians have always felt the support of Lithuanian politicians because they understand that only an independent, democratic and European Belarus can be a reliable friend and neighbor. 10 years ago, the group "For a Democratic Belarus" was created here in the Lithuanian Seimas. From this rostrum, I would like to say “ačiu” the Members of the Seimas who have led the group over the past year. Lithuania was the first country to do that, and now we are establishing such groups in other parliaments.
Ačiu also to the former Lithuanian Seimas and Government for recognizing our victory in 2020 and hosting the first refugees. Ačiu to the current Government for its strong support for Belarusians now. Ačiu to the Lithuanian people. We will never forget the unprecedented solidarity action you organized in August 2020 on the anniversary of the Baltic Way. Thousands of people lined up in a human chain from Vilnius to Medininkai. While many in Europe were just trying to understand what was going on in Belarus, you were collecting support for the victims of repression with GoBelarus.
Lithuania was the first country to open a humanitarian corridor for Belarusian affected by repressions and to start issuing national humanitarian visas. In spite of the pandemic, in order to help us, you, the Members of the Seimas, held extraordinary sessions and amended the laws. I often travel to foreign countries and I constantly use Lithuania as an example. Your hospitality and humanity really has no bounds.
Mes Niekada to nepamiršime, Lietuva”.
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“Dear friends, today I would like to recall how our revolution began. The political crisis in Belarus was caused, first of all, by the fact that Lukashenka lost the elections and refused to accept the will of the people in 2020.
Lukashenka once again trampled on the Constitution. Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus declares that the only source of state power is the Belarusian people and that sovereignty belongs to them alone, and the people had made it very clear: get out. Peaceful protests of many thousands took place in more than 40 cities and we know that up to one and a half million people took part.
But the dictator decided to stay in power by any means possible, at any cost. He held a secret inauguration. Belarus experienced an unprecedented wave of terror, with people being shot at and grenades thrown. Mr. Taraikouski was the first to be shot, and other victims followed. Many people lost limbs and became disabled for life. Tens of thousands were imprisoned and had to suffocate in cells. The Internet was cut off, so the truth had to be gathered in small pieces.
Since 2020, more than 50,000 people have been arrested. Thousands are still awaiting sentencing. Thousands have already been sentenced to prison. The total time for which political prisoners have been sentenced is 4,623 years. Just imagine – 4,623 years of stolen life.
We will keep demanding the release of all. Many political prisoners are in serious condition. Many are kept in solitary confinement and tortured further. On 21 May, exactly one year ago, Vitold Ashurak, who collected signatures for my candidacy for elections in Lida and later took part in protests, was killed in prison. Vitold's death, unfortunately, is not the only one in the events in Belarus.
My husband, Siarhei, is among the political prisoners. Sunday, 29 May, will mark exactly two years since he was imprisoned. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He spent a year and a half in solitary confinement. Siarhei ran a blog on Youtube, traveled across the country, and collected people's stories of life under dictatorship. This inspired him to run for the presidency and challenge Lukashenka. The only thing Siarhei wanted was to turn Belarus into a free country – a country where every Belarusian man and woman could live a decent life.
Like many political prisoners, Siarhei has his patrons among the various members of parliament. And I would like to thank the Members of Parliament who have taken such patronage. Aciu, draugai! Political prisoners are held in conditions that make them think that they have been forgotten, that nobody is trying to get them released. Your letters give them strength and energy. Unfortunately, the number of officially recognised political prisoners is now almost nine times higher than the number of members of the Lithuanian Parliament. I therefore urge the Members of the European Parliament to continue to commit themselves to take patronage over imprisoned Belarusians. Your support is very important for them, for their families, and for Belarusians around the world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
- Today the independence of Belarus is threatened as never before.
Lukashenka managed to keep in power in 2020 because Russia supported him. At the very height of our protests, the Kremlin helped the regime with propagandists and money. The Kremlin was also prepared to rescue Lukashenka with troops. Today, Lukashenka is paying Putin back with our sovereignty. Foreign troops were brought into Belarus under the guise of exercises, and then Ukraine was attacked from our territory. All of this took place with the consent of the regime, with the personal consent of Lukashenka.
Lukashenka and Putin dragged Belarus into a rogue war. They hoped for a quick war, that Kyiv would be conquered in three or four days, but they failed because of the courage of the Ukrainian people. I am glad that Belarusians also played their part in disrupting the plans of the Russian army.
Unlike in Russia, Belarusian society does not support the war, with 86% of Belarusians opposing the presence of Belarusian troops. In the first days of the war, Belarusians held a wave of anti-war rallies across the country and started the Anti-War Movement.
- The main goals of the Belarusian Anti-War Movement are:
1. to prevent the participation of the Belarusian army in Russia's war against Ukraine,
2. to stop Russia's aggression against Ukraine, in particular from Belarusian territory,
3. to withdraw Russian troops from Belarus,
4. and to defend Belarus' independence from Russia.
Belarusians understand that Ukraine's victory will bring our victory closer, and they are doing everything they can to help it. You must have heard about the Belarusian partisans. They have held more than 80 rail sabotage acts to disrupt the movement of Russian military equipment, cyber-activists have conducted several major attacks in cyberspace, mothers and wives have launched a campaign to stop Belarusian men from taking part in the war. Solidarity funds and charity initiatives that emerged in 2020 are now helping Ukrainian refugees, the Belarusian diaspora and businessmen have donated about 30 vehicles to Ukrainian medical and military needs.
About 1,500 men and women have joined Belarusian battalions in the Ukrainian army. One of them is 19-year-old Tsimur, who took part in the protests in 2020. He was beaten by Lukashenka's thugs after the elections and was in a coma for several weeks. His mother died of shock, but Tsimur survived and managed to flee to Europe. When the war broke out, he joined the Belarusian Kastus Kalinouski battalion, and is now defending Ukraine together with Ukrainian soldiers. He believes that Ukraine’s victory will give him a chance to return to Belarus.
Without a free Ukraine, there will be no free Belarus, and without a free Belarus, there will be no safe Ukraine and no safe Europe. Without a free Ukraine, there will be no free Belarus. And without a free Belarus, there will be no safe Ukraine and no safe Europe. It is very important for us that the West remains united in supporting Ukraine and Belarus. Today, dictators are trying to split this unity between the US and the European Union, to drive a wedge between individual EU countries. And now, they are instrumentalizing food security, saying that not lifting sanctions will cause hunger. We oppose any deal related to transit through Belarus. Sanctions against the regime must not be lifted. Let us not forget why they were imposed. As long as political prisoners have not been released and there are Russian troops on our territory, the lifting of sanctions will allow the regime to enjoy even greater impunity.
Let me thank the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Lithuanian government for their consistent policy against the regime. Lithuania has become a role model for the whole of Europe, and this is not an exaggeration. This is true. Please, continue closing the loopholes in the sanctions against the regime. And I will continue encouraging other countries to follow the example of Lithuania and its principles.
I also ask you to consider sanctions against the so-called members of Lukashenka’s Parliament, who are complicit in the war in Ukraine and in the crimes against the Belarusian people. They unanimously supported a law allowing death penalty for “attempted terrorism”. The Viasna Belarusian Human Rights Center says dozens of activists, including myself, have already been charged with “attempts to commit terrorist attacks”. Basically, any Belarusian who speaks out against the current illegitimate government risks being killed.
I ask you to persuade the Lithuanian business community that economic relations with Belarusian state companies must be suspended, because, unfortunately, they finance the Lukashenka regime.
Lukashenka needs money badly. Lukashenka has announced a so-called visa-free regime until the end of the year. I urge Lithuanians not to fall for this cheap trick out of necessity, because when you go on a tourist pleasure trip, you are going to a country where more than 1,200 political prisoners and their families are suffering, where saying anything freely carries risks. Even for using Lithuania's historical coat of arms, the Vytis, Belarusians were arrested and fined. We very much welcome all Lithuanians, you have always been and remain our good neighbors in Belarus, but only in a free and democratic Belarus, which we will definitely build.
There is always a choice between what is good and what is right. Instead of trying to save or earn a few euros – which can certainly be useful – let each of us now donate a few euros to Ukraine or to the families of political prisoners. It is the right thing to do, it is something we should do in the current situation.
You know, Lukashenka's regime is like an armchair which rests on three legs: repression, money and the Kremlin. If one of those legs is broken, the whole regime will collapse. We must therefore continue to deprive the regime of money, of the ability to carry out terror, and also to cut it off from the Kremlin.
Dear Lithuanians, Belarus is now at a historical crossroads. Belarusians realize that there are only two paths: a European democratic Belarus or de jure Russian occupation and years of isolation, regression and lawlessness. At the moment, it is difficult for Belarusians to feel at home in Belarus. The endless repression, which is only getting more and more brutal, is binding them like chains. Lives are being destroyed, regardless of age or social status. One of the most popular slogans of the Belarusian protests was 'This is our city'. As we marched through the cities of Belarus, even at the risk of our lives, we felt our power to change our homeland for the better, because we are the masters of our land. Now the dictators in the Kremlin and in Minsk are trying to take our homeland away from us, but their brutal repression of their own people only confirms how afraid they are of defeat. Despite the threat to their freedom and their lives, Belarusians are defending their homes and continuing to fight the regime.
- Belarusians want liberation, not temporary relief.
What does liberation mean to us? It means living in a democratic Belarus, where the people are able to freely elect their representatives to the state institutions, and where it will be simply impossible to challenge the sovereignty of Belarus. In a democratic Belarus, as our national hero, Kastus Kalinouski, wrote, 'there will not be the people for the government, but the government for the people'. To be free is to feel secure in one's own country, to have an economy based on human initiative and not on the suppression of initiative, as is the case now. To be free is also to work freely, not fearing that the regime will appropriate your achievements and take away your freedom, because you will be defended by an independent trade union. In a democratic Belarus, the power structures will serve the people and not the impostor masters. The police will fight criminals, not peaceful citizens defending their rights. To be free is to live in a European Belarus, which seeks its friends and not its enemies and chooses its own foreign policy line. We dream of a country that is respected in the world because it respects its citizens.
Back to what I said about the decisive turning point in the history of Belarus, I would like to remind you that Belarus is a key country in Eastern Europe. This is obvious to Lithuanians and Poles.
I want to assure you that my Office, the Belarusian democratic forces and all civic-minded Belarusians are developing their efforts. We are expanding our capacity to deal with practical problems, organizing working groups in Poland, the Czech Republic and Estonia, and we are also negotiating with the European Commission on joint efforts on the mobility of Belarusians in the European Union.
The Council of Europe has strengthened its cooperation with the Belarusian people, and we are working together on formats for systematic work in the Council of Europe in two main areas: nation building and civil society development. We are convinced that this will benefit the Belarusian people and our country. That is why my Office needs more tools so that we can do more for the people.
The recently established Representative Office in Kyiv will represent the interests of Belarusians in Ukraine and cooperate more closely with the Ukrainian Government. This Office is a great opportunity to discuss the post-war order with the Ukrainian authorities, as well as relations between our countries and in Eastern Europe in general. It is now more important than ever to have a conversation that will be able to bring the four peoples: Belarusians, Lithuanians, Poles and Ukrainians – closer together again, for the first time in several centuries.
In terms of history and thinking, Belarus is an inalienable part of the cultural and historical space of Central Europe and, above all, of our Baltic and Black Seas.
Many Belarusians, who woke up two years ago to fight for their political rights, had not yet realized that the choice for freedom also meant a geopolitical choice. Today, the majority of active Belarusians realize that they have the right to be themselves, to be Belarusians, that this is the best protection against external encroachment on our freedom, and that our independent country's place is among the free countries of Europe.
We are grateful to Lithuania for its prompt, consistent, meaningful assistance to the Belarusians who are defending the democratic future of their country. We admire the incredible mobilization of Lithuanian society and the Lithuanian state to help Ukraine, which is fighting Russia's assault on its freedom and independence, and on the peaceful order of the whole of Europe. Ukraine's victory is necessary for all our peoples, including Belarusians. At the same time, the future security of Ukraine, Lithuania and the continent as a whole will not be fully assured without a free Belarus. That is why Belarus must not be a political currency in possible negotiations with Putin, and why there must be no strange concern on the part of European politicians about how to help Putin save face. Only with a free, independent and European Belarus, alongside a free Ukraine, will we be able to have a strong and secure Europe.
Dear friends, as centuries ago, we are now fighting for common goals, for common values, for a common future.
Uz musu ir jusu laisve! Long live Belarus!”
