Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in a solidarity rally with Ukraine held every Monday in Stockholm. In her address, she spoke about the responsibility of the Lukashenka regime for its complicity in the war against Ukraine:
“What do I feel? I feel ashamed that, despite all the strength of the free world, we still cannot stop Russia and provide Ukraine with all the support it needs. I feel ashamed when I see Lukashenka standing next to Putin at a military parade, like a Russian governor.
I feel ashamed that Russian nuclear weapons are being deployed on Belarusian soil. That missiles and drones are still launched from our territory and continue to kill Ukrainians.
I feel ashamed that my beloved Belarus — a European, peace-loving, freedom-loving Belarus — is perceived as a rogue state, as a co-aggressor and accomplice. And wherever I go, I have to explain again and again that Belarus is not Russia and that the Belarusian people are not the regime”.
At the same time, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stressed that Belarusians continue their resistance underground, in exile, on the front lines, and in the media:
“And yet, despite everything, I also feel deep pride. I am proud that, despite brutal repression, the Belarusian people continue to resist: some underground, others in exile. I am proud of the railway workers who sabotaged Russian military logistics. Of the Belarusian fighters who joined the defense of Ukraine. Of the journalists who continued telling the truth from exile.
I am proud of our political prisoners, who, after years of isolation and torture, have not surrendered their dignity or principles.
I am proud of the Ukrainian people. I am proud of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and of Ukraine’s courage and dignity.
And of course, I am proud that Sweden has remained principled and steadfast in its approach toward dictators. I am proud that Sweden is one of the world’s leading supporters of Ukraine. And I am proud that Sweden continues to consistently support our struggle for democracy in Belarus”.
