Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, speaking to Euronews, emphasized that despite the Belarusian protest movement going underground, the population is preparing to overthrow the regime at the first available opportunity.
ADVERTISEMENTBelarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stated that Vladimir Putin not only seeks territorial annexation but also aims to establish loyal regimes and completely ‘Russify’ nations.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Euronews that although the protest movement in Belarus is largely underground, it signifies preparation for an uprising when the time is right.
Discussing the potential impact of changes in Russia on Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya believes that developments in Russia could weaken Alexander Lukashenko and ignite a new wave of protests, potentially benefiting Ukraine and undermining both Putin and Lukashenko.
However, Tsikhanouskaya also suggests that changes in Belarus could potentially lead to changes in Russia, arguing that the likelihood of regime change is higher in Belarus than in Russia.
“The continuous repression we have endured for nearly five years has not prompted people to forgive, forget, or abandon their pro-European views,” said Tsikhanouskaya.
The Belarusian human rights center, Vyasna, reports over 50,000 detentions on political grounds since mass protests erupted following Lukashenko’s 2020 re-election, with at least 5,472 people convicted in politically-motivated cases.
According to the United Nations, approximately 300,000 Belarusians have left the country since then, with most emigrating to Poland and Lithuania.
Tsikhanouskaya states that even today, an average of 15 to 20 individuals are detained in Belarus daily.
“He acts as if he still has thousands of people in front of his palace,” she says, referring to Lukashenko.
The apparent calm in the country does not signify surrender. It means people are preparing and will be ready to act when given the opportunity.
