Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya:
“We are used to hearing two words of support for every public statement we make, but ten words of criticism. We are used to feeling powerless, unable to stop the war and rescue all the prisoners. Even worse, we are starting to get used to not having any information about political prisoners for months. I never thought I would reach a point in my life where I would watch a video of Siarhei and not immediately be sure it was him. We have seen so much cruelty, pain, and tragedy that we have become used to expecting the worst. But today, let us break free from this bad habit.
Just the fact that we are here today, having open discussions, and holding public hearings of the Cabinet, is a great achievement for a society that has not lived in a free country for almost 30 years. Because transparency, diversity of views, and freedom of speech are the foundation on which democratic power is built. But it depends on all of us what kind of building that foundation will bear. Please, keep these moments — the ones that inspire you — in your memory. Fight the habit of always expecting the worst. Thank you for everything you have already done”.
