Belarusian youth rejects tyranny and played a key role in 2020. This was stated by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in her opening remarks at the “Youth, Gender and Democracy for Belarus” forum taking place in Stockholm.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked Sweden for supporting democratic Belarus. According to her, this is not gratitude, but an investment in its own security.
“To achieve this, we must bring real change to Belarus — dismantle the dictatorship, hold democratic elections and return Belarus to the European family,” she said.
“I am confident that young people from Belarus will become the driving force behind these changes. That is why we must invest in them. Belarusian youth rejects tyranny. They do not want to be part of the so-called ‘Russian world’. They look to Sweden as a model — as an example of what Belarus can become.
Belarusian youth played a key role in 2020. Students went on strike, joined the protests and fought for freedom. When the war began, young people spoke out against it. Many went to defend Ukraine — and some paid for it with their lives. Like Maryia Zaitsava, who was only 24 years old when she died defending Ukraine.
And today Belarusian youth continues to resist — both inside the country and in exile. They are paying a high price: imprisonment, exile and repression. But nothing will stop them,” Tsikhanouskaya added.
According to her office, the forum program includes panel discussions and working groups on youth participation, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, as well as practical tools for developing youth initiatives.
The forum was organized by the Office of Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian National Youth Council “RADA”, the representation of the United Transitional Cabinet on social policy, with the support of Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
