The Belarusian leader spoke at the opening of the international conference “Accountability for Crimes and Human Rights Violations in Belarus”. In her speech, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called for international support and efforts to hold those responsible for the repression against the Belarusian people accountable. She specifically highlighted the absurd sentences that people in Belarus have been receiving for likes or photos on social media:
📌 “Sentences like two years in prison for posting a comical picture of a dictator make justice a comedy itself. But we must take such sentences seriously as they destroy lives in prison”.
📌 “Impunity breeds monsters. All criminals must understand that they will not escape justice”.
📌 “Releasing all political prisoners remains our priority. We must continue international pressure until each and every one of them is free. Restoring justice is not just a necessity; it is our only path back to democracy”.
📌 “We must not forget the regime’s international crimes, like the hijacking of an aircraft, the migration crisis, the displacement of Ukrainian children, and not to mention Lukashenka’s involvement in the war. No one has been held accountable for this yet. Therefore, we must use all available tools, including personal sanctions, universal jurisdiction, and international courts”.
The event brought together representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and human rights organizations, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Justice of Lithuania, and MEPs.
