As part of her visit to Brussels, where the Belarus Days are held, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the Class of 2025 Gala Dinner, hosted by POLITICO Europe, as a guest speaker.
The ceremonial evening was dedicated to unveiling POLITICO’s annual ranking of the most influential people in Europe. The list is divided into three categories – ‘doers’, ‘disrupters’, and ‘dreamers’. Over the years, it has featured figures like Donald Tusk, Giorgia Meloni, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sanna Marin, and Olaf Scholz. This year, the attendees included not only renowned politicians and public figures but also top executives from major companies like Microsoft, Uber, and L’Oréal.
Below are the highlights from Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s speech.
Democracy:
“I believe in democracy. But we must have the courage to use all means to fight dictators. Responsibility lies not only with politicians but also with the private sector and tech companies, which must act unitedly and think creatively. Fighting dictatorship is not a local issue – it is a global challenge. It is everyone’s moral responsibility to contribute to this struggle”.
What drives Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to keep fighting: “Pain is my greatest motivator. Pain for all those behind bars. For people who have sacrificed their lives or freedom. And I carry this pain with me every single day.
My second motivator is the Belarusian people. Despite all the repression and constant fear in the country, Belarusians do not give up.
And third, our democratic partners. I truly feel how many people have joined the Belarusian struggle. We are not alone. But sometimes, I meet politicians or activists with emptiness in their eyes – people who don’t care, who don’t want to help. My mission with them is to ignite the desire to help those who need it most”.
