“Dear friends of democracy, dear friends of free Belarus.
First of all, I wish to congratulate our host, Minister Landsbergis, on this wonderful forum.
The fight for democracy is difficult. To win this fight – we need champions. And you, dear minister, are one of them.
You have become a real enemy for the dictators of the whole world, and I think you can be proud of it.
For us, Belarusians, Lithuania is more than a neighbor; it is a true friend and ally. Thousands of Belarusians, journalists and activists, fleeing repressions and terror, found a safe refuge here. And I am one of them.
Lithuania supports freedom fighters not only from Belarus, but from all over the world. And I think, there is no better place to discuss the future of democracy than here, in Vilnius – the hub of the global fight for freedom.
I am also honored to share this stage with another champion of democracy – Marija Pejcinovic-Buric.
Dear Marija, one year ago, you did something impossible. Under your leadership, the Council of Europe formalized relationships with the Democratic forces of Belarus, and stopped any cooperation with the illegitimate dictator. Following your example, the EU did the same half-year later, and this December, we will launch a strategic dialogue with the US. You showed that non-conventional times need non-conventional solutions.
In this room today, there are other champions of democracy from different continents. Thousands of kilometers might separate our countries. But what brings us together is a shared commitment to human rights, democracy, and peace.
Dear friends,
The fight for democracy is often romanticized. We all remember the beautiful pictures of mass protests in Belarus, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets. We remember fearless women on the frontline, on the journey to victory.
However, there is another, darker picture of our struggle, because the road to democracy is paved with pain, tears, and suffering.
It’s hard to be optimistic when you know that at this very moment one of your friends is being tortured by the KGB, and that another might face the death penalty for opposing dictatorship.
It’s hard to be optimistic when your friends are having to flee the country they love.
And it’s hard to stay optimistic when you have to explain to your kids that their daddy has been sentenced to 19 years in prison just because he dares to challenge a dictator.
Yes, it is hard. But this pain and hardship will not stop us from doing the right thing. Indeed these hardships have become part of my motivation. When I wake up every morning I think about those in prison and ask myself: what can I do today to help set them free?
Today, I want to share a few of the lessons I have learned over the past 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: Our fight is a global one. We cannot win it alone. Democracy wins when we all stand together and confront tyranny no matter where or when it appears. If we allow dictators to terrorise their people, they will go on to threaten their neighbors and then the whole world.
Lesson number three. Democracy is never given, it must be fought for and won. And democracy is not guaranteed forever. It can be stolen, in the blink of an eye. It must be preserved by the citizens’ active engagement.
Dear friends,
The victory of Belarusians over the dictatorial regime of Lukashenka is inevitable. The victory of Ukraine over Russian revanchism is a matter of time and our solidarity. The victory of democracy over tyranny is our common task and duty.
For the democratic future, for life without oppression, for human dignity we show our teeth.
Stand with Belarus. Stand with Ukraine. Stand with democratic Europe.”
