On the first day of the World Economic Forum, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at a side event on Belarus organized by the Greek delegation. The event discussed the state of democracy worldwide and in Belarus.
In her speech, the Belarusian leader focused on the challenges democracy faces and the elections that will take place in 2024 all around the world. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya mentioned the number of political prisoners, the conditions of their detention, and Russia’s attempts to absorb Belarus.
“It has been 30 years since we had free elections in Belarus. Promising to restore so-called “stability”, the dictator destroyed the parliament, independent courts, and the media. My country was turned into a police state where elections turned into a ritual without meaning and real choice”, emphasized the leader.
A discussion also took place involving Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Economic Reforms and Vice-President of the Association of Belarusian Businesses Abroad, Aleś Alachnovič, Master of Law, Anna Matsiyeuskaya, and representative of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Pavel Berstou. The conversation focused on the relationship between democracy and a country’s economic indicators. Mr. Alachnovič explained why dictatorship does not contribute to people’s prosperity:
“There are hardly any rich countries in the world that are dictatorships. Therefore, it is not by chance that after 30 years of Lukashenka’s rule, Belarus is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Only after a democratic transition can we start economic reforms to finally ensure a decent standard of living for Belarusians”.
