During her visit to London, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the public discussion “The Future of Belarus in a Peaceful Europe”, organized by the Center for European Reform (CER) and the EU Delegation to the United Kingdom. Also participating in the conversation were the Deputy Head of Foreign Policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Center, Katia Glod, and the Director of CER, Charles Grant, who moderated the discussion. The event brought together more than 100 diplomats, experts, academics, government representatives, and media.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya answered a range of questions about the role of the democratic forces, public sentiment inside Belarus, the impact of repression, geopolitical risks, and the future of Belarus in Europe:
- Vision for the future of Belarus
“Our vision is simple – a free, democratic, European Belarus. We work with everyone: society, the diaspora, activists, elites, and our international partners. Belarus is a European country, and Europe’s security is impossible without a free Belarus”.
- Public sentiment and identity
“Belarusians are tired but not broken. We have not given up. And even under threat, people continue to resist through small but very courageous acts”.
- Geopolitics and contacts with the United States
“We value any humanitarian efforts that may lead to the release of the regime’s hostages. But it must be understood that the dictator will always look for loopholes to preserve his power and to create the impression that he is an important actor in international politics. This is manipulation. Lukashenka does not represent the Belarusian people and has no mandate to speak on behalf of Belarus. Therefore, any contacts with him must not forget the essential point: as long as repression continues, as long as people remain in isolation, as long as arrests and torture happen every day – talking about a change in the regime’s policy is unacceptable”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged international partners not to legitimize the regime. She called for supporting Belarusians through visas, scholarships, and exchange programs, and clearly distinguishing the people from the regime. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya stressed that Europe must keep its doors open for Belarusians and show readiness for future cooperation: “European countries should say: Belarus, we are waiting for you. Your future is with us”.
