“Dear Professor Šešelgytė,
Thank you for your introduction. A few weeks ago, we met here at your Institute to discuss how to improve the Lithuanian-Belarusian relationship. Today, we discuss how to improve Media freedom. It seems that with your help, we can improve many aspects of life.
I want to thank all organizers of this wonderful event: The embassies of Finland, Ireland, and Norway, as well as the Belarusian and Lithuanian Associations of Journalists. There is no more timely discussion than this one.
Dear Minister Survila,
In your person, I want to thank the Lithuanian Government and Lithuanian people for your support and solidarity. Thousands of Belarusian activists and journalists found a safe haven here. I am one of them. Believe me, Belarusians will never forget.
Dear Minister Burke and Ambassador MacHugh,
You know, Ireland has a special place in my heart. I am grateful to your country for accepting thousands of Belarusian children through Chernobyl programs. After 2020, you were among the first who supported our movement. I am grateful for your support of independent Media – Zerkalo in particular. And thank you for supporting cultural initiatives – strengthening Belarusian national identity is crucial. Today, Russia is trying to subjugate our country and destroy everything that makes us Belarusians.
Let me also thank Ambassadors Makkonen from Finland, and Ambassador Horpestad from Norway, who will join us later. Thank you for standing with Belarusians. Nordic countries are true leaders in media freedom, and we are so glad to learn from the Best.
And, of course, let me welcome the real heroes of today – our journalists present in this room. Your bravery and dedication are truly inspiring. I know how hard it could be to work from exile. I know how much you risk yourself, your families, and your personal life.
But all your efforts to deliver the truth will not die in vain. Every day of your work brings our joint victory closer.
Naša Niva, Zerkalo, Hrodna.life, Euroradio, Belsat, Radio Svaboda, and many, many others – you served Belarusians in the harshest moment of our revolution, and you continue to serve them now. It deserves huge respect and admiration.
You are that critical element that connects Belarusians in exile with Belarusians inside the country.
Many of your colleagues have paid a big price for that already. Andrei Aliaksandrau, Katsiaryna Andreyeva, Dzianis Ivashyn, Andrei Kuzniechyk, Ihar Losik, Kseniya Lutskina, Pavel Mazheyka, Andzhei Pachobut, Larysa Shchyrakova, Iryna Slaunikava, Maryna Zolatava and many others – there are 33 journalists and media workers imprisoned by Lukashenka.
We will not stop until each of them and all political prisoners are released. If Lukashenka thinks that his repression will stop changes in Belarus, he is wrong.
I was very impressed by the last words of the editor-in-chief of “Rehianalnaja Hazieta” Alexander Mantsevich, who was sentenced to 4 years in prison last week. He said: “My grandfather was shot for Belarus, and you think you can scare me with your four years? Never.”
I wish all of us had the same bravery as Aliaksandr. And I wish all of us to survive these difficult times and return home.
Dear friends,
Our fight for freedom is difficult, but it’s the only right one. I don’t know how long it will take. I don’t know what challenges are ahead of us. But to win this fight, we have to build alliances.
In the international arena, we have many friends who support us already. And I will continue to ask for more assistance to Belarusian independent media. Because it’s not a charity, it’s an investment in the safe, secure, and peaceful future of Europe.
We have to confront Russian and regime propaganda. Yes, maybe they have more resources and tools. But we have the best professionals, we have powerful allies around the world, and we have advanced experience of other countries. Let’s use this potential in full.
Yesterday, I visited the YouTube office in Berlin. They assured me that they would do all possible to support Belarusian media by providing tools, training, and an advertising budget. Tech companies could do much more for media freedom in Belarus, and we will do everything possible to bring them on our side.
Dear friends, I wish all of us a productive seminar; let’s not just share the pain but find creative answers to the challenges we face.
Thank you, Zhyve Belarus.”
