On June 22, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered a lecture titled “Building a Nation from Exile” at the Krakow University of Economics. The event brought together students and university representatives and was followed by an extended discussion on Belarus’s future, democratic institutions, the challenges of exile, and preparations for democratic change.
On 2020 and the strength of society: “Unfortunately, the protest movement was crushed with brutal force and terror. But the community itself was not. The events of 2020 changed our people. Once people experience freedom, they will never give it up. Even today, despite repression and exile, our civil society continues to work. Yes, we do not have a state behind us — it has been seized by Lukashenka and Putin. That is why we had to create a parallel one — Belarus 2.0”.
On technology and staying connected with Belarus: “When people ask me what helps us stay connected and remain relevant to people in Belarus, I say, ‘God bless the internet’. And I sincerely mean it. Thanks to the internet, we maintain contact with people on the ground. People read the same news. And they can safely participate in political life”.
On Belarus’s future and the role of young people: “How can you help us today? Help us prepare for change. We need more contacts and more scholarships for students. We need to cultivate a new Belarusian elite. We need people with a European education and values, with new ideas and faith in democracy. I ask you not to lose sight of Belarus, to develop joint projects and initiatives, and to organize events. If you are a student or researcher, you can conduct research and write academic papers about Belarus. We ask you to be our allies and walk with us on the path to freedom”.
