The Third Conference of the Belarusian Diaspora opened with a speech by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The same emotionally restrained speech was expected from the leader at the end of the event. However, her final conversation with the participants had a completely different, more emotional tone.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Do you realize that politicians need support as well? Sometimes I also want to complain, maybe even cry on someone’s shoulder. I could tell you how today I was insulted by the phrase that ‘politicians like to use political prisoners as an excuse’. I could tell you how often people and initiatives turn to me to complain about each other. They ask for help in resolving conflict situations. I could complain that sometimes, when I’m too exhausted, even my children annoy me. The children of a political prisoner, whom I’m ‘using as an excuse’… I could, but I won’t. Because I must be strong and I cannot complain. I must show all of us an example of how not to waste our resources on arguments, but to continue working. Thank you all for helping me to be strong and empowering each other. Together we can do it all”.
