Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya briefed the press following her meetings with the foreign ministers of the Nordic Council member states in Reykjavik:
“Dear Ministers, Dear Journalists,
I know I am among friends here—friends who share a vision of a united, democratic, and peaceful Europe.
Even though we’re 3,000 kilometers from Belarus, it feels like home to me. Thank you, Þórdís, for your friendship and hospitality. Iceland may be a small country, but you have an enormous heart.
To all our Nordic friends—thank you. Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark—your solidarity, compassion, and bravery have been powerful. And bravery is exactly what the world needs right now. You have stood with Belarus and Ukraine not only in words but in action.
For years, you have supported Belarusians in our quest for freedom. You helped independent media, students, cultural initiatives, and human rights defenders. The national awakening we’ve seen since 2020 would not have been possible without you.
Today, I want to thank Denmark and Iceland for joining the International Humanitarian Fund. With contributions from Sweden and Norway, we have already gathered over 2 million euros. Thousands of people are in prisons, and many thousands have already passed through this hell and need immediate support. Your solidarity will bring much-needed relief to hundreds of families.
I also applaud your decision to appoint special envoys to work with democratic Belarus. We live in unconventional times, and such times call for unconventional solutions. Thank you for distinguishing between the Belarusian people and the illegitimate regime. It’s the regime that seized our country, dragged us into war, and is selling Belarusian sovereignty to Putin.
We cannot allow this. Belarus cannot be given to Putin as a consolation prize. Our nation deserves a peaceful, democratic future within the European family. I hope one day Belarus will be prosperous, successful, free, just like your countries. We take you as an example, and there is much we have to learn.
Today, I believe, we are opening a new chapter in Nordic-Belarus relations. Together, we will work in many areas to bring change to Belarus and integrate it into the European community.
- Together, we will support the repressed and secure the release of political prisoners held by the criminal regime in Minsk.
- Together, we will strengthen Belarusian civil society, independent media, human rights defenders, and exiled activists. No democracy can be built without a strong civil society and a free media.
- Together, we will protect Belarusian culture, language, and national identity, all under attack by Russia.
- Together, we will hold Lukashenka’s regime accountable for its crimes against the Belarusian people and Ukraine. Today, I asked the ministers to support Lithuania’s referral to the International Criminal Court and to continue backing the International Accountability Platform, based in Denmark, to collect evidence of the regime’s crimes.
- And together, we will continue to support Ukraine. The fates of Belarus and Ukraine are intertwined. There will be no free Belarus without a free Ukraine, and without a free Belarus, there can be no lasting peace in Europe.
Our plan is to create a broad international coalition—Nordics, Baltics, Poland, and others—in support of democratic Belarus. This would send a powerful message to Belarusians: you are not alone in your fight.
Nordic countries once led the way in supporting the freedom of the Baltic countries. Today, I am glad you are leading the way for us too.
Thank you!”
