Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Warsaw and delivered an address during a panel on Belarus and the Baltic region. The Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, Pavel Latushka, took part in the event alongside the Belarusian leader.
Here’s Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s speech:
“Dear Excellencies, friends
Dear friends,
I want to start with words of gratitude to our Polish colleagues for organizing the Rose-Roth seminar.
Poland plays a key role in our fight for freedom and democracy. Together with Poles, Lithuanians, and Ukrainians, we fought for independence against Tsarist Russia. Polish Solidarność inspired us, showing that courage and persistence can overcome any challenge.
In recent years, Poland has become a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of Belarusians, where we’ve built our alternative democratic institutions and continued our fight for a free Belarus.
I also want to thank the NATO PA for standing firm for free, democratic Belarus. Thanks for giving us, Belarusians, a voice on the international arena. Thanks for distinguishing between the pro-Russian criminal regime in Minsk – and the Belarusian people.
People who want freedom, and pay a big price for it. As we speak, at least 1400 political prisoners are behind bars. And every single day, 15-20 people are being detained on political grounds: for participating in protest, for sharing information, or for supporting Ukraine.
What’s happening in Belarus can be called the creeping occupation. The illegitimate dictator is selling our sovereignty to Putin, in exchange for political and financial support.
Russia destroys our national identity, culture, language, and establishes control over economy, information and military space. Belarus has become a launching pad for Russian aggression against Ukraine, and Russian drones are using Belarusian airpace to attack Ukrainian cities and kill civilians.
Moreover, the regime in Minsk provides Russia with weapons, helping to bypass sanctions. Recently, it deployed Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory – in order to threaten Ukraine, NATO, but also Belarusian people.
And it does all of that despite the will of Belarusian people. Being hostages of a violent dictatorship and its policy of terror, only 4% support the idea of the Belarusian army’s engagement in the war. More than 60% are against the deployment of nuclear weapons.
In spite of all propaganda efforts, Belarusian want to live in an independent country. Less than 5 percent support the idea of unification with Russia.
Despite brainwashing anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian propaganda, only about 29 percent perceive NATO as a threat.
All these numbers show us one thing: Belarusians must not be equalized to Lukashenka. Belarusians must be seen as allies in our fight against Russian imperialism and promoting democratic values.
Many Belarusians fight with arms for Ukraine, and create the largest foreigners’ formation within the Ukrainian army.
When democratic changes come and there won’t be any fear to speak openly, Belarusians will take their independence back. And they will cherish it more than before.
But on this path, we need allies, and many of them are in this room. I call on you to see Belarus not only as the problem or threat – but as an opportunity. The regime in Minsk is much more vulnerable than it seems, and we must do all possible to weaken it even more.
Democratic changes in Belarus can help Ukraine win the war, and will definitely be a huge blow to Putin. Changes in Belarus can spark changes in Russia too.
As democratic forces, we are preparing for this moment, to use the window of opportunity when it opens. We are building alternative institutions of power in exile, like the United Transitional Cabinet. We are strengthening underground movement within the country, and we are working with nomenklatura, who can help us in a critical moment.
What we must not allow to happen – is to make Belarus a consolation prize to Putin. When there will be any negotiations, we must demand that Russian troops leave not only Ukraine, but Belarus too. We must tear Belarus out of Russian claws. Because without free and independent Belarus, there will be a constant threat to Ukraine and to entire Europe.
And we count on our NATO friends and allies. I am glad that we have started an official dialogue with NATO this May. I had a productive meeting with Secretary General Stoltenberg, and I hope that during Mark Rutte’s tenure our cooperation will continue and even deepen.
We’ve also established bilateral relations with almost all the countries of NATO and their parliaments. Such NATO members as Poland or Lithuania, France or Germany, the United States, Canada and others belong to our closest partners.
Discussing future cooperation, exchanging intelligence, supporting Belarusian volunteers who fight for Ukraine, preparing reform of the Belarusian army in the future – these are things that we can do together already.
We don’t ask you to fight instead of us, we ask you to support our fight.
We fight for the values that NATO holds so dearly. Helping the Belarusian democratic movement, you also help Ukraine and lay foundations of future safe and peaceful Europe.
I wish you a productive discussion. My deputy in the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushka will be glad to answer all your questions!
Thank you, Zhyvye Belarus!”
