As part of her visit to Washington, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Belarusian diaspora and presented awards from the United Transitional Cabinet to distinguished compatriots. The ceremony also featured representatives of Belarusian communities and initiatives, diplomats, and members of the Department of State.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya acknowledged the contributions of the Belarusian diaspora in Washington:
“I am truly happy and grateful to be here with you today. That I can meet not only with American senators and congresspeople here in Washington but also with my dear fellow Belarusians.
While meetings with politicians are primarily about the future of Belarus, being with you is nourishment for the soul. Thank you for this opportunity!
Like many others, I was forced into exile with my children. I know firsthand that emigration is not an easy fate – even for those who came to a new country at a young age with their parents. All the more important, then, to hold on to your roots when far from home.
Among today’s awardees, some were born into émigré families, some left in the 1990s after the rise of the dictatorship, and others – like most of us – after 2020. And yet, all of them continue to live with Belarus in their hearts, in their language, doing everything they can to help our homeland become democratic and independent”.
