“Dear Christopher Knoch, thank you for your kind introduction,
Dear Armin Laschet,
Dear friends,
I’m always honored and excited when I have a chance to speak before the young leaders of Europe.
A few years ago, I couldn’t imagine myself in this place, and I would still rather be the one learning and listening to you. You know, all the big political icons of today started as young leaders just like you. It was only experience, mistakes and perseverance that made them rise to the highest political level.
One of my first visits in my still dawning political career was to Berlin. Yesterday I had a chance to walk through the Brandenburg Gate again. It amazes me every time.
This city witnessed the greatest tyranny, but it is also a symbol of unity and freedom. It shows us how fast and sudden changes can happen. And the Fall of the Berlin Wall, which we celebrate tomorrow, is a great proof of that.
I remember my meeting with Chancellor Merkel during that visit. She was so kind and spoke to me as if I was her granddaughter. Perhaps she saw me as too idealistic or naive, when I spoke about our fight for freedom. I am sure that sometimes experienced politicians also see you as too idealistic, but don’t lose your idealism because of that. Don’t be afraid to dream big about Europe’s future.
I also have a dream of a Europe that we will build together. Europe that includes Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova. Peaceful. Prosperous. Free of tyranny and oppression.
A Europe based on the values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. Values that we all share.
But the main value of Europe is democracy. It’s democracy that makes Europe so attractive and so successful.
In free countries like Germany, democracy is like air. You just live in it and enjoy it. Therefore, many young people take democracy for granted.
What we saw in Poland last month was truly remarkable. The peaceful transition of power through elections. This is something that we in Belarus can only dream about.
Democracy is much more vulnerable than it seems. I was the age of my son when we lost democracy in Belarus. We didn’t even notice how quickly the new homegrown president dismissed the parliament and courts and established a dictatorship.
He appealed to people’s emotions. Promised to bring the order. Soon, he got rid of political opponents who dared to challenge him. They just disappeared, leaving no traces.
We were taught: it’s not your business. Government knows better. They told us: sit quietly, don’t stick out. And I was one of those who lived her life and was not interested in politics.
But as Pericles said, “If you don’t take an interest in politics, it doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you”.
Politics came to my life unexpectedly. In 2020, my husband Siarhei, who was a popular blogger, was arrested. It happened immediately after he announced his run for President.
To support him, I decided to run in his place. And I did it out of love for my husband.
To my big surprise I was allowed to register as a candidate. Maybe Lukashenka didn’t take me seriously. It was a joke for him. He said that our constitution “was not for women” and that a woman can not be the president.
We proved him wrong. He lost those elections, but refused to go. The dictator unleashed terror against his own people which did not stop for a single day since then.
For our desire to live in democracy, we are paying a big price. Thousands were imprisoned. Tortured. Dozens were killed. This is also the price we pay for that mistake we made 30 years ago, when we neglected democracy and allowed dictatorship to settle in our country.
Don’t make this mistake. Cherish and protect your democracy. Participate in politics. Don’t allow anyone to seize your freedoms and your rights.
Remember: Losing democracy is easy. Winning it back is the hard part.
Today, as democracy is under attack by tyrants and terrorists, it’s more important than ever to unite against the forces that want to undermine our values.
The fight for democracy is not a local issue, but a global one. Because tyranny is like cancer. If it is not treated completely, it only grows and spills over to other nations.
This is what happened to Belarus. Feeling impunity, Lukashenka’ regime became a threat not only to Belarusians, but to the whole region and entire Europe. It became a co-aggressor in the Russian war against Ukraine, and now it blackmails the West with nuclear weapons.
9 million of my people are hostages in their own country. Thousands became political prisoners. One of them is my husband, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison, and I have not heard anything about him since April. Recently, my daughter asked, “Mum, is our Daddy alive? When can we go home?”
Our children deserve a normal childhood, without prisons, without wars, without exile. I want them to fully enjoy democracy – something that I never had a chance to do. And it gives me motivation to continue my personal fight.
I want them to be proud of their country, and not to think about emigrating somewhere abroad. I want them to take responsibility for their lives and their future.
I want them to be critical, and to challenge everything they hear. And I will never be telling them: don’t stick out. I will tell them: be yourself, and do what you think is right.
Dear friends,
As a conclusion, I want to share a few lessons I have learned over the last three years.
Lesson number one. Tyrants can not be appeased or reeducated. Any attempts to make a deal are seen by them as weakness. Democracies must show their teeth.
Lesson number two: The fight for freedom cannot be won alone. Democracy wins when we all stand together and confront tyranny no matter where or when it appears.
Lesson number three. Democracy is not a free gift. It must be cherished and protected. Only when citizens are active, when they vote and protest if needed – then democracy will flourish.
Dear Leaders,
The victory of Belarusians over the dictatorial regime of Lukashenka is inevitable.
The victory of Ukraine over Russian imperialism is a matter of time and our solidarity.
And the victory of democracy over tyranny is our common task and duty.
Thank you.”
