Tikhanovskaya believes that there will be a change in Belarus
“The results of this war will allow Belarus and Belarusians to move to the next stage, to put the country on the path to democracy”
It ended in a democratic uprising in Belarus, which was fraudulent the president two years have passed since the elections. Opposition leader living in exile Svetlana Tikhanovskaya In an exclusive interview with Azadlig Radio, he talks about the work to be done in the country.
“Of course, my current situation is sad – physically, spiritually, psychologically. Of course, sometimes you feel like you want to shed some of the responsibility. But you realize you can’t do that.” – Tikhanovskaya said in an interview to “Current Time”, a joint project of RFE/RL with Voice of America.
“Political organization”
An authoritarian leader in a fraudulent election Alexander Lukashenkofor another six years the president announced that he was elected. The day after the election, security agents took Tikhanovskaya out of the country. He currently lives in Lithuania, lobbies around the world for Lukashenka’s non-recognition, and has become the global face of his country’s democratic ambitions.
He opened his office in Vilnius “political “organization”, he says that he is negotiating with politicians in different countries:
“Our agenda is one – political releasing prisoners, holding new elections, stopping the war in Ukraine and supporting Ukraine”.
Guilt
Lukashenka’s government was complicit in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Tikhanovskaya believes that Ukraine if he can repel this attack, the sharp reaction to the war in Belarus will spell disaster for Lukashenka and “the huge repressive machine of his dictatorial regime.”
“The results of this war will allow Belarus and Belarusians to move to the next stage, to put the country on the path to democracy.” – he emphasized.
The opposition leader said that “brave and brilliant partisans” in Belarus are working against the war, and Belarusian volunteers in Ukraine are “defending the honor” of both countries. However, he also noted that he understands that many Belarusians feel guilty about the war, which he considers “the result of our silence” that allowed Lukashenka to remain in power for decades.
Two years ago
To a teacher without political experience, translator Tikhanovskaya 2020of the year the president suddenly appeared in front of the opposition during the election campaign. Her husband is a well-known blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky from not being allowed to vote and imprisonment After that, Tikhanovskaya became the head of his election campaign.
The unification of the main opposition parties around him gave Belarusians hope for a peaceful change after 25 years of Lukashenka’s rule.
Officials announced that Lukashenka won more than 80 percent of the votes. After that, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets. The security forces suppressed them with violence. Thousands of protesters were beaten, detained, torture he saw Journalists, activists, others imprisonment they were done.
“No one wanted to live in this regime”
“2020In , everyone thought that the moment of the collapse of the government was coming, because it was impossible to ignore the protest and war of so many people. However, it seems that we have not properly assessed the brutality of the regime and their willingness to stay in power by any means. But it was clear to everyone that no one wants to live in this regime.” – Tikhanovskaya said.
Sergei Tikhanovsky was sentenced to 18 years in prison in December 2021 for allegedly advocating the violent overthrow of the government. Tikhanovskaya says that from her husband, who was taken to prison after the trial news did not catch.
“The children recently sent him their first letter since he was transferred to the prison. We will wait for your answer. It will be Sergey’s birthday soon.” – he says.
“We try to do our best”
Tikhanovskaya says that her office continues to work with the expanded Belarusian diaspora, reorganizing and coordinating so that they work not only for themselves, but also for Belarus and Belarusians.
“We are working. We are trying to do something in small steps, not on the scale we want. We are completely restricted. We are not physically in Belarus. We are not in power there, we do not control the police. But we try to do what we can.” – says Tikhanovskaya, adding that she also hears criticisms about not working enough and “sleeping”.
“Despite this, you continue to work. Yes, you can’t do everything. You cannot go there and open the prison doors. There are many things you cannot do in such limited circumstances. But you continue to do your job.” – he emphasized.