Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg. Her visit comes amid a continuing geopolitical crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Strasbourg

plenary session

EU - Belarus (T)

formal sitting

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Sviatlana (BY)

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2020 (T)

Formal sitting - Address by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarusian opposition leader

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Dear, colleagues. It's my honor to announce that we have today with us, Madam Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Thank you for your presence among us today.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, One of the important and prestigious leaders of the democratic opposition in Belarus, who, as you recall, together with other leaders of the Democratic opposition, was indeed the laureate of the Sakharov Prize 2020 and who accepted my invitation to address the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, She, along with others, is a symbol of the fight for democracy and freedom and is a voice for many political prisoners who are currently languishing in jail in Belarus and who we don't want to forget.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, More than a year on from the elections where the European Union did not recognize the results. Belarus continues to violate the rights of its citizens to silence civil society voice to use repression as a daily weapon. The regime didn't hesitate to use men, women and children who needed protection, putting their lives in danger without any respect for fundamental human rights, just in order to destabilize the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We would stress again today in this house the values of the Union are not for sale and this parliament calls other institutions to to be up to defending the fundamental rights. Currently, there are 900 political prisoners in Belarus, including laureates of the Sakharov Prize of 2020. We are with them and we will continue to call for their release.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, So at this point, at this very important point in time, we have with us Madame Svetlana and I'd like to pass the floor so we can hear her message. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Mr President. Distinguished members of the European Parliament. Right now in Belarus, there are more political prisoners than members of this chamber assembled here today. 882 of my fellow citizens have been recognized to be in prison for exercising basic political rights people in the rest of Europe take for granted.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, If we invite all of the Belarusians unjustly imprisoned for the wrong color of the dress or socks, even four halls like this one would not be enough room. On behalf of them and fellow Belarusians who believe in freedoms this union represents I speak to you today.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Among them are my husband Sergei and my friend Maria Kalesnikava.  Among them there is one also Ales Bialiatski. Just year ago, he was with us at the European Parliament receiving the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Ales returned home and half a year later was arrested for his work at the Human Rights Center Viasna. The case of Ali shows that the Belarusian crisis is much closer to all of us than it might seem.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Just recently I was here for all to greet and congratulate and now he is behind bars. Belarusians are no longer safe in their country and abroad, and neither in this case are they Europeans. As we have seen, the regime in Belarus has shown itself willing to seize individuals from international flights, misuse international agencies and agreements to punish dissent, to punish migrants in a way deliberately designed to undermine the stability and security of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Confronted with this challenge, we can feel paralyzed by fear or we can take our destiny into our hands and turn to the tide of European history in our favor. When I addressed the European Parliament last December, I spoke about the year 2020. I said then this year the world has seen Belarus awakening.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, In 2021 the world saw Belarus actively resisting a regime that has only grown more abusive. But has the world seen  Europe standing with us in support of our shared values, our freedom and our dignity?

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, We saw that Europe can not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. Belarusians saw brave European diplomats like Schuebel who were willing to take a risk regarding values and principles. Belarusians were pleasantly surprised by unprecedented action by the European Commission to announce a comprehensive plan for the future of Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Belarusians were grateful to the European Parliament for the Sakharov Prize and vocal support for political prisoners. But Belarusians also saw the year 2021 one in detail. And I would like to briefly explain the way that the year 2021 one has been passing for my fellow countrymen.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, In January, police in Belarus started arresting dissenting citizens, breaking right into their homes. In February, two young journalists Daria Tchultsova and Katsiaryna Andreeva were sentenced to two years imprisonment.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, All they had done was to report on the protest meeting after the terrible death of Raman Bandarenka, after Beeton's by the security forces. Meanwhile, in Europe, we had mostly polite urgence to respect freedom of speech in Belarus as analysts speculated that perhaps the political crisis had ended.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, In March, hundreds of people were detained simply for being outdoors on Belarusian Independence Day. So much did the regime fear street protests. Meanwhile, in Europe, many said that the situation must have been stabilized since there were no new pictures of mass protests, even though 800.000 Belarusians have voted for negotiations via the online platform.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, In April, the regime's foreign affairs minister promised to destroy civil society. People imprisoned were poisoned with chlorine. Meanwhile, in Europe, the media interest in Belarus was rapidly vanishing. May was the crucial turning point. The biggest online independent news site Tut.by was shut down and its team imprisoned.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Democratic activist Vitold Ashurak died in prison for unknown reasons. 17 year old Dmitri Stakhouski couldn't bear the endless interrogations by the police. He killed himself.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Finally, there was the outrage of the state sponsored the hijacking of the Russian airplane to kidnap blogger Raman Pratasevich. Only after that Europe took the first stronger measures against the regime.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Nine whole months after the human rights catastrophe in Belarus began, I'm grateful for the EU's response to the regime's outrageous grounding of European flight. This was a moment the European Union can truly be proud of.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, But still, would this have happened if only non EU citizens were on board this Ryanair flight? Our democracy and human rights reserved only for EU citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, In June, political prisoner has attempted suicide in court because the regime threatened to torture his father if he did not plead guilty. Meanwhile, in Europe, politicians were afraid that sanctions might hurt ordinary Belarusians.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, As if Belarusians were not already suffering, as if they blame the EU. According to surveys, most Belarusians blame the regime for existing sanctions, not the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, In July, another aspiring presidential candidate, Viktar Babaryka, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, the same month the regime made good on its promise to destroy civil society. It closed dozens of independent media and 270 NGOs and arrested many of their employees and volunteers. Meanwhile, in Europe, we heard expressions of deep concern.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, In August, Olympic athlete Krystina Tsimanouskaya was almost kidnaped during the Games in Tokyo simply for criticizing Belarusians sports management. Same time, the IMF signed over one billion dollars in covid support to Belarus, a country where prisoners are being deliberately infected with covid. Meanwhile, in Europe, the media focus was exclusively on other global issues.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, my In friend Maria September, Kalesnikava was sentenced to 11 years in prison. IT worker Andrey Zeltser was shot dead during a KGB raid in his apartment. His wife is the only witness, was sent to a psychiatric hospital. And nearly two hundred Belarusians have been arrested for negative comments online about this event.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Meanwhile, all over Europe will find its lobbyists were working furiously to block new sanctions against this abusive regime. In October, the migrant crisis exploded to a full scale. At the same time, the six to four year old politician had a good case to show remains in prison with suspected Cancer, he receivds no medical aid. And in Europe, the regime continued to use an Interpol to pressure the dissidents abroad.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Finally, in November, the tensions at the Belarusian Polish border reached a boiling point. Thousands of foreign citizens taken hostage by the regime have come to the focus of the EU. Phone calls have been exchanged to elevate their conditions, but at the same time, nine million Belarusians remain hostages of the regime.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Have we forgotten the tragic lessons of our European past? The tyrants are emboldened by appeasement, not placated. That when you avoid confrontation with the bully, you only make the inevitable shout down that might make it more costly and dangerous.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, But do you really suppose it will stop them? We are already seen how dangerous a regime like this can be to its neighbors. Lithuania and Poland are facing the biggest test of their border security. By the way, Polska, Lietuva, stay strong. We know that you pay a big price for being true and principled friends to the people of Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Supposing this abuse of migrants is somehow stopped, do you really believe the regime's threats beyond its borders will end? Increases in the flow of smuggled drugs and other contraband? And military provocation? A disaster to nuclear power plant right on the EU's external borders. None of this is just my imagination. These are threats that the regime itself has made. Whatever it takes to get what it wants.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Meanwhile, European hesitates. Times goes by for those unjustly imprisoned, killed or exiled. Time is measured differently for Belarusians, it's measured in lost moments of happiness, moments that are the right of every one of us to experience. Moments that are the reason why all of us want to live in freedom and dignity. Moments that Belarusians are deprived of.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, For me and those would be moments when my daughter might see the love in the face of her father, Sergei, seen here off on her first day of school. Moments when my son  could feel the support of a father who helps him to fix his bicycle.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, For other mothers time is measured in tears. When you do not know if your husband is still alive. When you are behind bars and you have no news about your five children. When all is left of your child is a framed photograph with a black ribbon, because they beat him to death when he asked them not to remove the white red white ribbons hung in his backyard.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, For the workers in MTZ, Belkaili, Hrodna Azot time is measured in sweat spilled while forced by the regime to walk in unbearable and dangerous conditions. Conditions that are close to being slavery work with no rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, For thousands of activists across the country, time is measured in units of stress and anxiety because even though they choose safe methods of resistance like disturbance, self published newspapers, post stickers, join an independent labor movements, every day they risk arrest and.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, For our medics from Voranava, Hotimsk, Verhnedvinsk to Bragin, time is measured in hours of overtime and in the minutes of sleep they are allowed because due to the regime's regard, disregard of the pandemic, the workload has tripled.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Ladies and gentlemen, do you think these people understand what we mean when we talk about EU's long democratic processes and copmlex diplomacy? Do you think our statements of deep concern give them hope and confidence?

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, What can the European Union really say to the people of Belarus, to the forgotten Europeans who want the same things the rest of Europe enjoys?

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Perhaps do we not have a right to demand your help or support. Perhaps you may refuse us because it may contradict your national interests or perhaps is bad for your businesses. But I am here to ask for your support, nevertheless.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Our fight is for your freedom fight for freedom to only by standing together and acting decisively does democracy have the chance to survive in this world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Distinguished representatives of Europe, pardon my straightforwardness, but I must say it is getting late since August 2020, there have been ample gestures and expressions of solidarity. Belarusians were praised for reigniting their faith in democracy and human dignity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Is it not the turn of Europeans to demonstrate their commitment to those values with actions? Will Europe as a whole have the courage to take decisive action now? Or will we wait another year?

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Ladies and gentlemen, we don't have another year. Neither does Belarus. Neither does Europe. There is more we can do than just wait and react. The regime in Minsk is motivated by fear of the Belarusian people. Hence the escalation of violence.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Meanwhile, the Belarusians are not giving up. Three independent surveys show more than half of Belarusians want a new presidential election. Despite intense political pressure, Belarusians are still finding ways to protest. Maybe not in the ways that get the attention of your media.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, But thousands have joined mobilization initiative like Victory plan and The Workers movement. They are coordinating and preparing for new rallies and strikes when this is possible. Independent media and civil society groups have organized abroad and continue to work for Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, I'm proud of each of the Belarusian in our country and in our diaspora. It is them who will change our country for the better. New Belarus is not only about the future, it is already being born and growing. But today it needs your help.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, We need Europe to be more proactive when facing autocracy. The cliché about Belarus being the last dictatorship of Europe is, in a misleading. way, Dictatorship not have natural geographical limits. It spreads, if its not stopped.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Dictatorships, after all, can be compared to a virus infecting the body. We all know that the more disease is ignored, the more difficult it is to treat it in the future.  It's now clear to the whole world that waiting and seeing is not the right strategy to address the virus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Action is crucial to successfully overcome a virus. A three part strategy can help. First, isolation to prevent its spread. Second, treatment to remove its negative effects. And last but not least, the immunity which allows keeping the body in good shape. The same strategies can be applied by Europe when dealing with the virus of dictatorship in Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, The first part of our strategy should be the isolation and non-recognition of the regime. Many Belarusians are hurt to see that even today, such influential European media, from Deutsche to BBC call Alexander Lukashenko 'President'. He is not.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Calling him president shapes the wrong perception among millions of viewers. He is a citizen of Belarus who has illegally resorbed presidential power by violence. Europe, let's stand up to your decisions. You didn't recognize the elections, so do not hold this imposter for what he isn't.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Do not recognize any deals made without Belarusians agreement. Speak clear and loud. The contracts signed by the regime after nine August 2020 are and will be legally void. Lukashenko is gambling with Belarusian sovereignty. We must stay firm in non-recognition policy and be clear that independence and sovereignty cannot be traded or undermined.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, This non-recognition should be coherent. New ambassadors to Belarus should not be appointed, nor should anyone who respects freedom, human rights and the rule of law receive the regime's ambassadors.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, We also shouldn't invite its representatives to international gatherings, sport or cultural events, suspend the regime's participation in Interpol. This would send a signal that abuses will no longer be tolerated. Instead, I encourage you to give a voice to the Belarusian people, invite Belarusian democratic forces to all international fora to represent them at the highest level, particularly during the Eastern Partnership Summit.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, The second part of our strategy is treatment. We should push back on the regime and limit its access to the resources it uses to maintain power. When your child is ill, you know, you have to give him medicine even if it hurts to see him resistant, but you realize that this is the only way the same principle should apply.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, When we talk about European sanctions against the regime, let me assure you, sanctions do work. Continue holding a consistent sanction policy. Sanctions split the elites, destroy corruption schemes and divide people around. Lukashenko. As no one wants to share the responsibilities for the regime's crimes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Let us be firm. We must not let lobbyists block the necessary sanctions. Let's close all remaining loopholes. Let us coordinate our actions with the US and the UK to make the sanctions effective and not merely symbolic.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, By all means, let us be consistent. It makes little sense to further invest in the Mafia regime. Send a message that we will not enrich it so that it can use these resources to abuse the citizens. And of course, let us be true to international law. Give the green light to prosecute the human rights offenders under a universal criminal jurisdiction.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Invoke the regime's responsibility for capturing the civilian aircraft and its hybrid attack on the EU borders. Let's make sure all the evidence of the regime's crimes will lay on the table of the international tribunal. At ICC and ICJ. I call on Europe to take initiative in that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, The third part of our strategy is immunity. We need to boost the natural resistance and backbone of Belarusian society. I call on Europe to expand assistance to our people. It requires flexibility.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, And an unconventional approach to reach those on the ground to human rights defenders, media, citizen and journalists, investigators, local neighborhoods, activists, volunteers, initiatives promote and Belarusian language and culture programs of rehabilitation for families of the oppressed and programs of psychological aid.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, People must feel they are not abandoned. Let us stand together in solidarity. Let's not forget the Belarusian prisoners of conscience and their families do not let the regime manipulate the migrant smuggling in order to obscure the human rights catastrophe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Inside the country. Both Belarusians and migrants are now hostages of the regime, and these two problems can't be solved separately. Remember, to cure the virus, we need to treat the problem at its root, not just the symptoms.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, And let us all be true to our principles. Let's help those who are forced to leave the country. Many Belarusians fled in a hurry with short term Schengen visas. Many Belarusians do not like to be considered as immigrants, but as temporary relocants.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, They want to get back home soon, but they need small things like legal status and work permits. Though we usually speak of democracy in high terms, democracy is made of small details too. Help Belarusians so they can help Belarus and Europe too. So we could continue the fight for our freedom and yours.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, I know that I'm surrounded here by allies and partners like President Sassoli, and vice-president Metsola. To all group members, friends of Democratic Belarus who took good parenthood for dozens of political prisoners in Belarus, who sent them letters and postcards.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Today, I brought a response for you. These are freedom postcards, drawings made by political prisoners in their letters.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, They feel your support, my dear friends. So as millions of Belarusians who are sincerely grateful to you and all the members of European Parliament for your firm position, for your statements, for your resolutions, but they also want the words to be materialized in actions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, People on the ground in Belarus have huge expectations from you for one simple reason. They want to see in Europe an example to be followed. Let us be true to Europe, the dream of a united Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Europe is not a dream about a bureaucratic system or an economic union alone. It is the dream of sisterhood and brotherhood of acommunity, of nations and people that cooperate peacefully and respectfully in freedom and dignity. It is a dream about shared values, of respect, of human rights, of representative constitutional government and the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Being a community means working a common path together. Last year when we met, I said about Belarus. Every country has its own path to democracy and this is ours.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Now, are one year later,  Belarusians much closer to their goal, but the road has become more difficult. Obstacles are constantly being thrown in our path. Today, not only democracy in Belarus, but also democracy in Europe depends on whether we will walk this path together and overcome these obstacles together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, It's time to show that European values are and will continue to be our greatest source of strength and the only solid foundation for peace and prosperity. I'm here today to invite you to walk this path with us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian opposition leader, Thank you very much. Long live Belarus, and long live Europe!

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you very much, Madam Svitlana  for your speech. Your freedom is our freedom. The European Parliament is fully convinced of that. Thank you for being here with us today.