Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at a seminar on political prisoners in Oslo:
“Dear Vice President Morten Wold,
Dear Maria,
Dear Thórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir,
Dear Members of Parliament,
Dear friends,
I know that I am among friends. Friends who share the same values. And the same vision — of Europe — peaceful, democratic, without wars, without tyranny, and without political prisoners.
First, let me thank the Norwegian Storting for gathering us today, to discuss so urgent, and so painful a topic as political prisoners.
Political prisoners are our heroes, and we must fight for their release. Every day, until all are free. When you are in a cold KGB chamber, with a small window the size of a chessboard, only the solidarity you feel from outside keeps you alive. You know that someone out there is fighting for you.
One of them is Ales Bialiatski. Exactly two years ago, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. This news made us all proud. But it also made us sad because Ales gave us his own freedom so that we may have our freedom one day.
For decades, he fought for human rights and against oppression. For this, he was imprisoned several times. As we speak, he is being held in prison under the most inhumane conditions, deprived of legal and medical aid.
Even the Nobel Prize could not open the door of his prison cell. It was his wife, Natallia, who received the prize on his behalf in Oslo two years ago. In his Nobel speech, read by Natallia, Ales said: “It just so happens that people who value freedom the most are often deprived of it”.
Ales is in prison, but Natallia continues to fight for him. And I am so glad she is with us today. (Address her) Natallia! You and Ales are symbols of courage to all Belarusians and inspiration to all people who care about freedom. Thank you!
And today, I call on you to support the international campaign “Free Ales now”. Sign a petition for his release. Organize events to support him and all political prisoners. Let’s make sure that Ales’ fight — our common fight for freedom — keeps alive.
Alongside Ales, there are 1400 political prisoners in Belarus — women and elderly, journalists and human rights defenders, professors, and even minors.
Many are held incommunicado, like my husband Siarhei. For more than 500 days, I didn’t hear from him. I don’t even know if he is alive. This is torture — not just for the prisoners, but also for their families.
Among them are journalists Ihar Losik and Kaciaryna Andreyeva, human rights defender Marfa Rabkova and activist Palina Sharenda Panasiuk. Among them is also Maryia Kalesnikava, who tore up her passport to avoid being expelled from her homeland. Now she is starving and dying in the dictator’s prison.
Among them is Maksim Znak, a brilliant lawyer, who wrote, “If love is worth waiting for, then freedom is worth sitting in prison for.”
This spirit, unbroken and unbowed, demonstrates the courage of the Belarusian people. The courage shown by those who don’t lose hope even being inside their cells. Courage is shown by ordinary Belarusians, who, despite the risks, continue to resist, and support those in need.
The courage is shown by parents who must explain to their children why their loved ones are behind bars—not because they did anything wrong, but because they dared to dream of a better Belarus.
And no terror, no repression, will stop us from fighting for freedom, of our country, and our people.
But no fight for freedom can be won without allies. And many are in this room. I want to thank Norway, the Norwegian people and the Government for standing with us on this path.
You demonstrate your commitment to democracy and human rights not just by words, but by deeds, and concrete actions.
During my last visit to Oslo, in April, we agreed to establish the International Humanitarian Fund to support victims of repression in Belarus. Norwegian MFA agreed to generously allocate 10 million Norwegian kroner as the first contribution to the fund. This help is more needed than ever. Thank you!
Norway supports our media, and human rights defenders, and last year you hosted a group of children of political prisoners. Having a loved one in prison is hard for adults, but just think about how tough it must be for children.
I want to thank representatives of Norwegian civil society for doing so much for Belarus. In particular, I want to thank The Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and dear Berit Lindeman, Human Rights House Foundation and Maria Dahle (дАле), Norwegian PEN, Center for Human Rights, Norwegian Institute of Foreign Affairs, and University of Oslo, and of course, Belarusian Association in Norway RAZAM. I urge you to keep Belarus in focus, organize joint events, launch campaigns, and projects with Belarusian counterparts.
I want to thank all human rights defenders in this room – from Norway and Azerbaijan, Georgia and Serbia, Ukraine and Belarus. Thank you for being the voice of the oppressed. The fight against tyranny is a global one. And you are on the frontlines. As dictators around the world unite, we must stay united too.
Dear friends,
Every day, I wake up thinking of Siarhei, of Ales, of Maria, and so many others. I ask myself, “What can I do today to help set them free?” I ask you to join me in this mission.
Let us not be silent. Let us not rest until every last political prisoner walks free. and Belarus is once again a country where saying the word “freedom” is not an act of courage but a simple, beautiful truth.
Thank you!”
