Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, comments on Lukashenka’s proposal to create a Harvard-style “educational hub” in Belarus:
“Lukashenka’s idea that ‘Belarusian talents must stay in the country’ might sound appealing on paper but we all know the truth. How can our youth blossom in a system that stifles free thinking and innovation? Belarusians deserve more than just slogans. They deserve to choose independently where and how to receive their education, how to find employment, and build their careers. They deserve to choose where to go to enhance their knowledge and which information to trust, regardless of whether it suits the official ideology.
Let’s be honest – neither these distractions nor promises will change the fact that Belarus is facing unprecedented political repression. The focus on external ‘threats’ is a smokescreen to avoid addressing real issues within the country.
We don’t need another ‘hub’ or empty promises. We need to rebuild the country from the ground up, starting with the restoration of democracy, respect for human rights, and the release of all political prisoners. Only then can we create a truly world-class Belarus – not thanks to some hub but thanks to our commitment to a free and democratic future”.
The full comment in Belarusian is available in the video.
