“Dear Melanie Vogel,
Dear Thomas Waits,
Dear European Greens,
I have come here to tell you how I feel at such an important moment in our world’s history.
I am happy to be with you here today. I feel your passion, your energy, and desire to change the world.
I am happy that I am not in a torture chamber like so many of my friends,
I am happy that my kids are with me and not in an orphanage.
But I am not happy that my husband is still in prison, and I have no idea if he is alive.
I am not happy when I read about another wave of arrests in Belarus, and innocent victims in Ukraine.
I am not happy that I can’t go back home, to my beloved Belarus, which has been held hostage by a dictator for 30 years already.
A few years ago, I was an ordinary housewife, raising two wonderful children and I had no interest in politics.
The very idea of going on a stage like this was a nightmare for me.
But life sometimes puts us into roles we never imagined for ourselves.
When my husband, Siarhei, decided to run against the dictator, he was locked up.
To support him, I put my name on the ballot for president. And I did it out of love.
Dictator registered me as a joke. ‘No one will ever vote for a woman’, he said. But guess what? I won. We won.
It could be a happy end story. But!
But dictators are cowards. They don’t accept defeats. They never play by the rules. And they help each other.
When Belarus’ dictator was on the brink of collapse, another one, Putin, came in to save him.
They drowned our movement in violence and terror. And this terror did not stop for a single day since then.
As I am speaking today, more than 1500 political prisoners are behind bars. Every single day 15-20 people are being detained.
More than 70,000 passed through torture, KGB interrogations, sleepless months in jail. So many died…
And my kids don’t stop asking when their daddy will come back, and why he never replies to their letters. They haven’t seen him for 4 years.
Believe me, I had thousands of moments when I was ready to give up. To stop my fight.
But every morning I wake up, and think about those freedom fighters who are behind bars. And those who passed away.
Among them there are many green activists.
I think about Vitold Ashurak, political and environmental activist. He died under unclear circumstances in the penal colony, and no criminal case was opened over his death.
I think about Stsiapan Latypau – the most famous arborist in Belarus. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. He could not handle torture, and attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the neck with a pen.
I think about Pavel Nazdra, an eco-activist, who led the “Green Watch” movement in his hometown Mazyr. He received 2 years in the colony, and we don’t know his whereabouts since then.
I also think about Andrei Kuznechyk, journalist and bike activist, promoter of eco-transport. For more than two years, his children grow up without a father.
Thinking about them – gives me energy to fight. For their own freedom, but also the freedom of Belarus.
Because I know: they count on me. And they count on you. We must not let them down!
I also think about all Belarusians who went to fight for Ukraine. They understand that by fighting for Ukraine they also fight for the freedom of Belarus.
Because the fates of our countries are intertwined. Without free Ukraine there will be no free Belarus, but also vice versa. Without free Belarus, there will not be safe Ukraine.
Both of our nations are fighting against the same enemy – the axis of dictators.
Both of our nations are fighting for the same future – the European future.
For a future where they can live without fear. Where people are not thrown in jail for their views.
Where free elections, rule of law, justice, equality, and human rights are not just words, but imperative.
In your countries, these simple things may be taken for granted. But in ours – it is something we risk our lives for.
Dear Greens,
As you enter the electoral campaign for the European Parliament, I call on you to become champions of democracy.
To be advocates of all those who risk their lives and their freedom in the name of values we all here stand for.
Include support for Ukraine and Democratic Belarus in your election program. Because the fight for freedom is a global one. Provide Ukraine with everything it needs. The victory of Ukraine will be the ultimate defeat of Putin and Lukashenka.
We must counter Putin’s attempts to use corruption, intimidation, espionage and fake news to interfere in Europe and undermine its institutions.
In this election campaign, some may propose that we sacrifice our principles for the sake of cheaper gas or oil, and a comfortable life.
However, what comfort can there be when tyranny is at our doorstep?
Some forces might propose to make a deal with dictators. ‘Let’s give them what they want’, they might say.
But dictators can not be appeased. Dictators can not be reeducated!
‘It’s not our war’, some might say. Wrong! It is our common war. For common values, and the future.
From some politicians I often hear about fatigue. Fatigue? Tell about fatigue to Ukrainians in snowy trenches.
Tell about fatigue to Ales Bialiatski, our Nobel Laureate, kept incommunicado in Lukashenka’s cell.
They don’t have the right to feel fatigue. So neither do we.
Be promoters of the European Union as a community of values. The European Union that stretches from Lisbon to Vitebsk, from Dublin to Kharkiv.
Belarusians want to be part of the European family. And we want to hear from you that when the moment comes, the EU’s door is open.
We want Belarus not only to be democratic. We want Belarus to be green.
We need to diversify energy supplies and get rid of this shameful dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
Dictators don’t care about the people or the planet – they only care about their own survival.
They see natural resources as a cheap fuel for a machine of repression and war. This must stop!
Due to loopholes in sanctions, the regime has not just preserved the export of wood to the EU, but even increased it. This must stop.
Our precious forests are being felled, while nature reserves become residences for Lukashenka’s hockey team members. This must stop.
We must stop nuclear blackmail. First, they built a Nuclear Power Plant which ignores safety norms, on the EU border. Now they deployed Russian nuclear weapons on our territory. This must stop.
We can’t trust dictators to protect the environment when they won’t even care for their citizens.
And I applaud the EU’s decision to suspend cooperation with the official Minsk, and start working with democratic forces.
We are ready to present our roadmap for green development. The Green Economy Concept for Belarus includes ten innovative proposals for a sustainable transformation.
It is part of our broader strategy to bring Belarus back to Europe.
The struggle for a greener Belarus cannot be separated from the fight for human rights and democracy.
These are two sides of the same issue.
As we advocate for political prisoners and fundamental freedoms, we pave the way for a sustainable future.
Same, as we advocate for democracy, we enhance our own security. If tyranny is not contained, it spreads like cancer.
Therefore, your support for Belarus and Ukraine, is not a charity, but investment in your own security and a sustainable Europe.
Dear Greens,
I came here not to lecture you. I came here to thank you.
Thank you for keeping Belarus in focus.
Thanks to members of Greens in European Parliament, who became symbolic godparents for Belarusian political prisoners. Viola von Cramon, Jakop Dalunde, Marketa Gregorova, Sergey Lagodinsky, Erik Marquardt, Niklas Nienass, Terry Reintke, Tineke Strik. Thank you.
Every parliamentarian can join this campaign today, and adopt a political prisoner, tell their stories, send them words of support, or help their families. On March 25, we call on you to join the Day of Solidarity with Belarus.
Thank you for your resolution from December, in support of the Belarusian Green Party which was liquidated by the regime. Belarusian Greens continued their brave work from exile. Thank you!
Thank you for cooperating with the alliance “Green Belarus”, aimed to prepare our country for the green transition. One of its leaders, Iryna Sikhiy, is among us today. Thank you!
Dear friends,
As we face the decisive moment of history, we must stay united. And we must be bold.
We must strengthen our institutions, and defend them from those who try to undermine our unity.
As my fate brought me to the frontline of the struggle for Belarusian democracy, fate brought you to the frontline of Europe’s democracy.
Together, we are on the frontline of struggle for Europe’s future.
And let me assure you – we will not stop. Belarusians will not stop. Until all political prisoners are released. Until every Russian soldier leaves our country. Until we hold trials for crimes against humanity. Until we get our country back.
I will never rest until my children, all Belarusian children, can live in a country free from fear, tyranny and war.
Lukashenka will be defeated. Putin will be defeated. Ukraine will win. And Belarus will finally return to the European family of nations.
The road ahead may be long and difficult. But thanks to you, thanks to your passion, thanks to your continued support — I know that we all will win.
Thank you”.
Photo: Margot L’Hermite
