On May 15, 2025, a landmark event titled “Her Story, Our Future: Belarusian Women Making a Difference” took place at the French Institute in Prague. The forum brought together leaders and activists of the Belarusian democratic community to honor the role of women in the struggle for freedom and democracy in Belarus. The three-hour event drew genuine interest from diplomats representing the United States, France, and Estonia, as well as representatives of international organizations.
The event was organized by the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic, led by Director Kryścina Šyjanok. In her opening remarks, she expressed special gratitude to the French Institute for hosting the event and warmly welcomed Dr. Lars-André Richter, Project Director for Central Europe at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and his wife, Anne-Caroline Richter, emphasizing that the Foundation was the event’s main sponsor.
Program highlights
The event began with a special video message from the President-elect of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who stated that true equality and full self-realization for Belarusian women can only be achieved in a democratic Belarus.
Following the video, attendees witnessed a powerful solo theatre performance titled “Connection” by renowned Belarusian actress Maryna Yakubovich.
The monologue conveyed the suffering, reflections, and emotions of many imprisoned Belarusian women, including Maryia Kalesnikava, and was based on letters and testimonies of those who have experienced incarceration. According to Ms. Yakubovich, the performance was dedicated to all political prisoners in Belarus, especially women jailed for their civic stance. The key target audience, she noted, is the European public, who must not remain indifferent to the Belarusian cause.
The second part of the event featured personal stories from prominent women across academia, culture, and media, followed by a panel discussion on the role of Belarusian women in the protests and beyond. The discussion was moderated by Radyio Svaboda (RFE/RL’s Belarusian service) journalist Hanna Sous, formerly host of the Tolki Zhanchyny (Women Only) show. The panel included:
- Volha Shparaha (Olga Shparaga) – Philosopher and author of “The Face of the Revolution is Female: The Case of Belarus”, a book about the protests in Belarus; Associated Researcher at the Research Center for the History of Transformations in Vienna and lecturer at the University of Hagen in Germany. She reflected on the unique role of women in Belarus’s ongoing fight for freedom and democracy.
- Halina Kazimirouskaya – Leader of the “Volny Khor” (Free Choir) and Director of the Ravienski Belarusian Art School in Warsaw. She spoke about cultural resistance and preserving Belarusian identity through music and artistic expression.
- Alina Koushyk – Editor-in-Chief of Belsat TV and former Representative for National Revival in the United Transitional Cabinet. She shared stories of her fellow journalists – Katsiaryna Andreyeva, Larysa Shchyrakova, and Iryna Slaunikava – who were sentenced to long prison terms for their professional work and commitment to truth.
- Maryna Yakubovich – Lecturer for Drama at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg (Austria), who used to be a lead actress at the Belarus Free Theatre for over 15 years. She spoke about creating her monologue “Connection” and her contacts with imprisoned Belarusian women.
Key messages and calls to action
The forum in Prague served both as a space for open dialogue and experience-sharing and as a powerful reminder that while repression in Belarus continues, international solidarity and support remain vital in the fight for justice and dignity.
The event’s organizers and speakers called for:
- Demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners;
- Supporting the families of the imprisoned;
- Spreading awareness about the situation in Belarus;
- Amplifying the voices of Belarusian women on the international stage;
- Continuing the struggle for a democratic future where all women can be free and fulfill their potential.
“Today marks exactly five years since Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya launched her presidential campaign. It was a true ray of hope, a signal that change was possible. It was the beginning of our peaceful revolution, which is still ongoing. And women remain at the forefront of the fight for freedom, democracy, and equality.
We cannot forget those who have paid the highest price in this struggle, such as Hanna Kandratsenka and Tamara Karavai, who died after imprisonment. Their fates have become symbols of the price Belarusian women pay for their right to dignity and freedom”, said Kryścina Šyjanok, Director of the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic.
