Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a lecture at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, titled “Freedom’s Frontier: Belarus and the Battle for Europe’s Future”. The event brought together students, researchers, diplomats, and media representatives.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s lecture focused on why Belarusians’ struggle for freedom is not just a national story but part of the broader European and global fight for democracy.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed various communities in Australia with a call for concrete action and solidarity:
“To young people, I want to say that your voices matter. You are the generation that will define the future of democracy. Learn about our struggle. Share our stories. Invite Belarusians to your discussions. Write theses about the Belarusian resistance. Be curious. Be active.
To scholars and academics: study the dynamics of hybrid regimes. Examine repression, governance in exile, disinformation, and resistance. Use your knowledge to expose injustice and develop solutions. Knowledge is power only when it is shared.
To politicians and diplomats: time matters. Every day that Lukashenka remains in power, more people suffer. Your actions must be tougher, smarter, and more effective. Support for civil society must be long-term and strategic. Recognize the role of the democratic forces. Include us in international forums. Engage with the Belarus of the future, not the past.
And to all of you – do not forget about us. Do not forget those who cannot speak, those who are behind bars, and those who continue to resist in silence.”
