As part of her visit to Madrid, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a lecture at IE University titled “Leadership in Exile: The Fight for Democracy in Belarus”.
IE University is a private international university in Spain, known for its programs in business, international relations, law, and technology. The lecture gathered more than 60 members of the academic community.
In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the threat posed by the regime to Europe: “Belarus is a clear example of how security and democracy are interconnected. A dictatorship threatens not only its own citizens but also its neighbors. Today, the Belarusian regime not only provides Russia with weapons and territory for war, but also wages a hybrid war against Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. It directs illegal migrants into the EU or launches balloons into Lithuania, disrupting operations at Vilnius Airport. War is becoming a tool for the survival of both the Putin and Lukashenka regimes”.
She also emphasized that despite the challenges, Belarusians continue to fight and build the future of the country they want to live in: “There is another Belarus — a free Belarus that continues to resist. We cannot protest publicly now, but the movement lives underground. We continue to work in exile for democratic change. We may not have a state, but we have the most important thing — people who are willing to fight for values. We have created democratic institutions: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the United Transitional Cabinet, and the Coordination Council. We are not only promoting democracy — we are practicing it”.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya shared her vision for change in Belarus: “My dream is for Belarus to become a country where children do not have to be told why their father is in prison or what war is. I want Belarus to be a country where the rule of law works. Where businesses are protected. Where the economy can grow. A country where people are not afraid of the state. To achieve this, we need Europe. Because only in Europe can we protect our culture, our language, and our identity. The world may be falling apart, but we are here to fix it together”.
