Statements by Veronika TSAPKALA, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Tatiana KHOMICH, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by several laureates including opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will be awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Brussels

statement

EU - Belarus (T)

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2020 (T)

Belarusian Democratic Opposition

KHOMICH, Tatiana (BY)

TSAPKALA, Veranika (BY)

PUTSILA, Stsiapan (BY)

Sakharov Prize 2020: statements by Veronika TSEPKALA, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Tatiana KHOMICH, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureates

Title: Sakharov Prize 2020: statements by Veronika TSEPKALA, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Tatiana KHOMICH, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureates

SOUNDBITE (English): Veronika TSEPKALA, Today I would like to remember those was from the very beginning of this campaign, this revolutionary campaign, because when everything started back in May 2020, there were several very, very strong people. And I would like today to mention them. My husband Valery Tsepkalo, Victor Babryco, Pavel Severinets and Nikolay Statkevich: these people are really heroes. They challenged the regime when the regime was so strong, when the people were afraid. I remember the first meetings,when the people were scared to come over, they were very discouraged because they believed nothing could be changed in our country, because the system was built in dictatorship for twenty six years. And the most frequently asked question was like, why am I doing this? Why would I risk everything? Why would you put at risk everything in your life, because nothing is going to change. So these brave men, they risk everything they risk their life. Some of them, most of them, they're still in the prison. My husband, he was forced to leave the country. They opened the criminal charges, falsified criminal cases, a case against him. That's why he's in exile right now. Once again, I would like, first of all everybody to know these names and acknowledge their input into this revolution in Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Veronika TSEPKALA, I would like to personally thank the European Parliament, European Union for these high Award, this means a lot to us. It means a lot to our people because this is the acknowledgement of our fight. We have been fighting for the last twenty six years. We have made a huge progress in this fight and what is happening in Belarus right now, this peaceful protest, which we have seen for the last four months. It means a lot to us and the Sakharov Award for us this is your acknowledgement of our fight. You give us the strength and power to move on, it gives us the strength to not to give up our fight. And we really appreciate that. You see us as one of the countries in Europe, even though we are not part of the European Union, but we appreciate that you help us like a neighbouring country, like our, you know, friend. And thank you very much, for us it means a lot. That means a support and acknowledgement of our fight.

SOUNDBITE (English), Veronika TSEPKALA, First of all, you did not acknowledge him as a legitimate president. And it means a lot to us as well, because it means you respect our choice. You respect our right to vote for the person who deserves to be a president of the Republic of Belarus. But in any way, we ask you, if possible, to maybe to make the list of the sanctions people, you know, more broader to help, for example, to the women. What I'm doing now, I'm working with the women who suffered from the repressions of this regime. I created the Belarus Women's Foundation. And the main objectives of this foundation is to provide help. So I would appreciate if you help us, particularly to the women, because, as you know, in Belarus, our revolution had the female face. This why this subject is very touchy for me. It's very close to me.And I'm going to do everything just to develop this, to develop our women and to protect our women.

SOUNDBITE (Russian), Stsiapan PUTSILA, It is very difficult now in Belarus because people are under pressure, but I think it will not bring the result because people are going to protest again and again.

SOUNDBITE (Russian), Stsiapan PUTSILA, I think it's very important for the opposition to get together right now to bring the common solution in order to bring our common victory. And it's very important to take these steps right now.

SOUNDBITE (Russian), Stsiapan PUTSILA, We are expecting concrete steps, sanctions, pressure from the international community. What actually could bring a result? For example, the excluding villagers from the SWIFT programme is very important.

SOUNDBITE (Russian), Stsiapan PUTSILA, My personal opinion is that in a year he (Lukashenko) will already not take a role as a President, but some steps might be undertaken by him that through the Constitutional reform or some decorative attempts he will somehow still be at power.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tatiana KHOMICH, sister of Maryia KALESNIKAVA, representative of the Democratic opposition in Belarus, (about her sister) She is very optimistic, she's very brave and courageous. When she got to know that I can represent her on the Sakharov Prize Award, she sent a message from the prison so that her voice can be heard aloud to the world. One of the messages that she said is: when Belarusian people started to fight and they are fighting very much. They understand and the whole world understood that good exists and sooner or later, the good will win over the evil.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tatiana KHOMICH, sister of Maryia KALESNIKAVA, representative of the Democratic opposition in Belarus, Everyone of us should make these small little steps every day to win. We understand that sooner or later it will happen because people understood that everything is in their hands, they can change everything. We just need to do it. We just need to fight every day.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tatiana KHOMICH, (about receiving the Sakharov Prize) This is very emotional, this is inspiring, I think, not only for me, but also for all our friends, relatives and for every Belarusian in Belarus and abroad.