Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “During its years in power, the regime has devalued the basic law just as much as the national currency. That’s why today the talk about the triumph of democracy in the country is as false as the recent sham election or propaganda narratives about a prosperous “socially oriented” economy.
Belarus needs to have a working Constitution, which protects people and does not turn them into hostages of the system. That is why we have proposed our vision of the Constitution, which guarantees the observance of rights and freedoms for Belarusians. Besides, today Vilnius is hosting a conference where Belarusian and international experts will discuss a package of laws for the new Belarus. To make the proposals meet European standards, we have prepared them together with international partners. And we tried to adopt modern-day democratic practices.
The primary difference between our approach and that of the regime lies in our commitment to open dialogue. Thus, every piece of feedback and each suggestion to refine the draft laws and the Constitution is extremely valuable. They are instrumental in shaping the future for all of us. Indeed, one of the distinctions between a democratic society and a dictatorship is that in a democracy, real change is initiated by ordinary people, not just by a handful of politicians in government residences.
I urge you not to stand on the sidelines. Join the discussion on the New Belarus platform, share your thoughts, and send your suggestions to [email protected] or to @AskOffice_Bot. Only together can we build a country where human rights are not just stated on paper but are exercised by the people”.
