Svetlana Tikhanovskaya’s unwavering commitment to democratic replacement in Belarus, despite being forced into exile and despite her husband’s imprisonment, is an inspiration to peoples around the world.
The leader of the Belarusian motion of opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, has been named through Emerging Europe as her audience of the year.
YouTuber’s wife incarcerated Sergei Tikhanovsky, Ms. Tikhanovskaya gained international fame last summer by replacing her husband as a candidate for the Belarusian motion of opposition for the presidency of the country.
“I feel incredibly honored and honored to win the Public Person of the Year Award,” Ms. Tikhanovskaya said. “The paintings that emerging Europe is making, highlighting a region that is misunderstood and underrepresented, are incredibly important. We want more sophisticated and detailed reports on Central and Eastern Europe, and we know the dangers and dangers that hounds face in fulfilling their duties”.
Nearly 8 months have passed since Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, declared himself the winner of the presidential election, officially getting more than 80% of the vote.
However, by any objective measure, Lukashenko lost the election to Ms. Tikhanovskaya, who ran for president only after her husband’s candidacy was annulled.
Mr. Tikhanovsky remains in Belarus awaiting trial on fraud charges he denies, which he says are politically motivated.
Other potential rivals of Lukashenko, president of Belarus since 1994, have been just as lucky, adding Viktor Babaryko, former head of a Belarusian primary bank. Babaryko arrested in June last year – also for fraud – and denied the opportunity to run against Lukashenko in the August election.
Valery Tsepkalo, founder of the high-tech Belarusian park and some other possible rival of Mr Lukashenko, was prevented from applying on the grounds that he had not gathered the required number of signatures for his candidacy within the allotted time.
The fact that Ms. Tikhanovskaya was included in the polls was a marvel and a testament to her unwavering ambition to achieve genuine democratic replacement in Belarus. The only other applicants were allies of Lukashenko, whose presence was intended only to offer a vine leaf of democratic respectability.
Temporarily becoming a focal point for the Belarusian opposition, attracting giant crowds to his electoral rallies, Lukashenko’s regime forced him to keep them in remote locations away from central Minsk and other Belarusian cities.
In the days following the election without delay, she was forced into exile in Lithuania, but mass demonstrations calling for new free and fair elections continued in Belarus.
“When I joined the presidential crusade in the summer of 2020, I was scared but looking to help,” Ms. Tikhanovskaya told Emerging Europe. “I sought an end to injustice. How surprised I was to see a wave of solidarity across the country. We have mobilized thousands more people, hunting in the same direction and sharing the same aspirations.
“Together, we have shown the world how the strength of participatory democracy can unleash. My only role as a leader is to pay attention to people, make their voices heard, and harness the strength of collective intelligence.
Since then, he has continued to lead the motion of opposition and maintained pressure on the foreign network to turn Lukashenko into an outing, making visits to meet with world leaders and addressing foreign institutions, adding the United Nations and the European Parliament.
However, the foreign condemnation for the brutal way in which Mr. Lukashenko Security Forces has suppressed protests against his regime (more than 35,000 people have been arrested and last week two hounds were imprisoned for covering the protests) has been repressed.
A new of the arrests took place on 25 March, an unofficial holiday that marked Belarus’ declaration of independence in 1918 and the brief People’s Republic of Belarus.
“The belarusian state government has declared war on journalism, crushing the last islands of press freedom,” Tikhanovskaya said.
“Major news sites are blocked, TV channels are under general control of the state, many news hounds are threatened, intimidated and arrested. At least 18 criminal fees have been filed against Belarusian news hounds. Three news hounds were sentenced to terms of criminals, including Daria. “Chultsova and Katsiaryna Andreeva, sentenced to two years in prison for live protests against the murder of Raman Bandarenka, a nonviolent protester brutally beaten by police for protecting our national symbols, knew they would be the target of state machine repression and yet to do their job. 75,000 people saw their food.
“My center bleeds as they read their stories: young, courageous, in search of the truth. We want Daria and Katsiaryna to hold those in force accountable, to tell real stories about people’s lives, struggles and aspirations. they will have to continue our struggle for justice, peace and democracy. “
While the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States have so far presented their views to the Belarusian opposition and imposed non-public sanctions against Belarusian figures, Mr Lukashenko has taken the decision to hold on to force at all costs.
He recently introduced constitutional adjustments that would underscore force in the hands of the presidency, saying on March 30 that “it is vital to maintain strong presidential authority” and that “the president will have to retain his fundamental authority to influence any one-off decision. “.
“If we strip the president of his harsh powers, the country will be lost. It will cease to exist,” he added.
But Ms. Tikhanovskaya is determined to keep fighting.
“Belarus has dared to break the chains of authoritarianism and aspires to freedom,” he says. “Lately we are experiencing a spiral of excessive violence and repression. Belarusian society is suffocating. I am anything still naive: those are the darkest days in the independent history of our country. But I know, we know the darkest time is shortly before sunrise. Honestly, with the concerted efforts of the foreign community, we will be able to replace the course of history in Belarus.
The Emerging Europe Awards 2021 are the fourth edition of a programme showing the emerging European region: individuals, public and personal organizations, as well as projects and initiatives. Previous winners come with Kristalina Georgieva, Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Europe Prosecutor Laura Codru-a Kuvesi and Professor Gunter Verheugen, former Vice-President of the European Commission.
“Europe will have to be the lead voice that defends basic values and freedoms,” Tikhanovskaya adds. “As former European Commission Vice-President Gonther Verheugen said at the reception of this award in 2018,” we want more Europe and not less. “And now more than ever.
“Let’s shake the fear. Let us be ambitious, courageous and bold. Let us be the defenders of democracy and freedom. “
You can Svetlana Tikhanovskaya’s full acceptance speech here.
Photo: daina Le Lardic © / European Parliament
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