Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Do you remember the wonderful girl Varia? The little Belarusian girl spent two years saving money to buy a drone for herself, and then handed it over to the fighters of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment along with a touching letter.
It seemed like the end of the story. But I called Varia our little heroine for a reason! Though at such a young age, she does good deeds every day and tries her best to help those who fight on the side of good. Varia launched a fundraiser for combat drones, which was supported by our Office, the Prague Support Team, and the BYSOL Solidarity Fund. The equipment was eventually handed over to a Belarusian special aerial reconnaissance unit in Ukraine.
Thanks to Varia’s enthusiasm, our fighters received two pickup trucks and soon they will also receive a command vehicle, four drones, and several Starlink stations. In addition, thanks to the funds raised, ten volunteers have received training and the latest equipment, and they will soon go to the front.
Varia has a big heart. I am proud of our Varia and glad that it is not only Belarusians who notice her good deeds. Today, the girl received a Czech foreigner’s passport – one of the first since the regime banned passport renewal in consulates abroad. Our Representative in Czechia, Kryścina Šyjanok, previously met with the leadership of the Asylum and Migration Department to articulate the needs of Belarusians in Czechia affected by Lukashenka’s decree. I am glad that our European partners are willing to lend a helping hand to those who supported others but now need help themselves.
The Czech government shares the desire of Belarusians for independence. I am grateful for the support and legal assistance that it has provided. I am confident that there will be more examples like this in the near future. After all, Varia is one of the thousands of bright people who prove that Belarusians help each other even in the most difficult times”.
