Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gave speech at the Speakers’ Summit in Mallorca:
“Dear Excellencies,
I speak today on behalf of brave Belarusians, who continue to fight: for their own freedom, for democracy, and for the European future. Our protest went underground, but people didn’t give up.
I also speak for those who cannot: the imprisoned, the silenced, the oppressed. Among the thousands of political prisoners is my husband. My children did not see him for four years. And I don’t know if he is even alive.
Those who are behind bars don’t have the right to fatigue. Same as brave Ukrainians in trenches. Neither do we.
Our struggle is a stark reminder of the cost of freedom. Freedom is easy to lose, and so hard to get back.
Today, my country is taken hostage by two usurpers, Lukashenka and Putin. Their aim – is to restore the empire of evil and destroy the very democratic world.
Europe’s very fate is now being decided in Ukraine and Belarus, but also Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia.
Our people want to be part of Europe, not the Russian world. And it’s not just about a better life. It is a matter of our survival as nations.
And let me be clear: dictators won’t stop until we stop them. They can’t be appeased. They can’t be reeducated. They can only be fought.
And it’s high time for democracies to show their teeth.
The fight for democracy needs champions. And many of them are in this room.
Champions like Francina Armengol, who is hosting us today. Thanks for keeping Belarus high on the agenda.
Champions like Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen advocating for Belarusians in Lithuanian parliament. Thanks for distinguishing Belarusians from Russians.
Champions like Szymon Holownia. Poland accepted thousands of Belarusians and Ukrainians fleeing war and repression and supported our independent media.
Like Marketa Pekarova or Milos Vystrcil, Barbel Bas or Anita Demetriou.
I am thankful to all speakers in this room for being defenders of democracy.
Parliaments can make a difference. You have the privilege to call things by their name: Lukashenka and Putin are criminals. Belarus is Europe, not Russia…
Endorse the European aspirations of Belarusians. Let’s make sure that the EU’s door will be open when the moment comes.
Make statements, organize hearings on Belarus. Create groups for democratic Belarus in your parliaments and give them formal status. Show that you recognize the democratic Belarus, not the illegitimate regime in Minsk.
Next week, we’ll sign a memorandum of cooperation with the European Parliament. Yes, it’s unprecedented. But we live in non-conventional times – and such times need non-conventional solutions. Thank you!
I also invite you to become symbolic godparents for our political prisoners. Be their voice. Highlight their stories. They must not feel abandoned.
Finally, let’s help Ukraine to win this war. Because it’s not just their war, it’s our common war for freedom.
Long live Belarus! Glory to Ukraine! Long live Europe!”
