In an extensive interview with RUS LSM (Latvia), Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the kind of support Belarus’ democratic forces expect from the international community and the European Union, how the Belarusian community in exile can influence the situation inside the country, and why it’s incorrect to refer to the Belarusian democratic movement as the opposition.
Here are some highlights from the conversation:
📌 “The format of how the Consultative Group was established and operates demonstrates a formalization of relations, showing that the European Union’s support specifically for the democratic part of Belarusian society is stable, that they are working with us and not with the regime, and we are aligning our messages”.
📌 “What we might be lacking now is more widely open doors to Europe. Because we, as a democratic Belarus, want to return to our family – the European family where we historically belong. It’s crucial for us to hear: ‘We are waiting for you, our doors are open, we will help you’”.
📌 “Of course, there is a growing perception among people that the world is closing off, building another Iron Curtain between us. But it should fence off Europe from Lukashenka, not from the people”.
📌 “Belarusians in exile are ready to strengthen civil society from the outside. We have built alternative institutions of power abroad, we maintain connections not only with the authorities of other countries but also keep good ties with people inside the country”.
📌 “We realize how important it is to strengthen our Belarusian roots, which have almost been destroyed, and replant the Belarusian language and culture. Museums in Belarus erase the memory of the heroes of Belarus and Europe to replace them with Russian and Soviet ones. This testifies to a creeping occupation of our country”.
