Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “A few days ago, Lukashenka publicly denied the OSCE a chance to nominate independent observers for the parliamentary “election” in Belarus. This once again confirmed that the regime only needs this campaign to secure the “new normal”. One where thousands of regime dissenters are thrown into prisons, and the state, striving to maintain power, supports a war and sacrifices its independence bit by bit to Russia just for new loans. The dictatorship builds an iron wall to isolate itself not only from the world but also from Belarusians. It restricts personal freedoms, stifles private businesses, and labels initiatives as “extremist”.
We will do all we can to ensure the world does not accept this “normal” and rejects it instead. After all, only Lukashenka and his war-waging neighbor need it. Belarus needs to break free from this “co-dependence”, micromanagement and surveillance on the ground, as well as top-down ways of dealing with economy and life in general – and it will get just as successful as other European countries. We have everything we need to do this: people’s initiative, support from foreign partners, and entrepreneurial experience.
Dear friends, it is in our power to prevent the civilized world from recognizing this sham election. It is within your power to make it be seen as a farce within the country as well. Don’t play the game imposed by the regime – ignore the sham election. By refusing to participate in this deception, you protest against the “new normal” Lukashenka is trying to secure. And that is precisely what the regime fears the most”.
