Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today marks 39 years since the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. Almost four decades have passed, yet Belarus still feels the consequences of that catastrophe.
The regime continues to conceal statistics on diseases and diagnoses in the contaminated areas. The same thing happened during the COVID pandemic five years ago, when the authorities advised people to treat themselves with vodka, while at the same time people were dying.
Today’s regime behaves just like the Soviet authorities during the disaster. It is easier for them to stay silent, to forget, to ignore. Chornobyl remains an inconvenient topic that destroys the pretty picture of prosperity and stability.
If Chornobyl exploded today, we would once again see the same lies on state television, claiming there is “no threat” and that “the enemies are trying to sow panic.” People would eventually learn the truth but the regime would never admit its mistakes. We would witness a spectacle with the public dismissal of “the guilty,” while the fatal consequences for the population would be concealed for decades.
Chornobyl is not as distant as it may seem. Two months ago, a Russian drone pierced the protective sarcophagus over the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. This could have caused another horrifying tragedy, leading to new deaths. And how did Russia respond? By calling it yet another provocation from Kyiv.
The regime in Belarus not just ignores existing threats but also creates new ones.
The Astravets nuclear power plant was built while disregarding technical standards and safety regulations. How many times has it already broken down and stopped operations? How many more international expert reports are needed to understand that this plant is a threat? A threat to both Belarusians and our neighbors.
Today, the regime talks about building yet another nuclear plant. It boasts about the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons. Their presence on our land makes Belarus a target and Belarusians – hostages to a foreign imperial madness.
History shows that a single human error – or a cynical order from above – is enough to lead to a tragedy.
Every year on April 26, Belarusians take part in the Chornobyl Way – not only to honor the memory of victims and liquidators but also to say ‘no’ to the irresponsibility and lies that have permeated both the Soviet and current regimes.
In the future, Belarus will become a country where human life is the highest value. Where those in power serve the people and take responsibility for their mistakes. Where there is no place for nuclear threats or war”.
