Фото: Офис Тихановской
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day. She wished Ukrainians victory and a just peace.
“Dear President Zelenskyy! Dear Ukrainians! Congratulations on Independence Day!
Every day, you pay a high price for your independence. Through your example, you show the whole world what courage means. And you give hope to other nations that are also fighting for freedom.
Three months ago, I was in Kyiv and saw your strength with my own eyes. The country is at war — and it lives. It works. It studies. It builds. It plans for the future.
You did not allow Russia to take your country away from you.
And for us, Belarusians, this is very important. Many people in Belarus today link changes in our country precisely to Ukraine’s victory. Because we understand: our destinies are connected. Ukrainians and Belarusians alike want to decide their own future, rather than have decisions made for us in Moscow.
And I want you to know: Belarusians are on your side. Belarusian volunteers are fighting for Ukraine with weapons in their hands. Belarusian partisans stopped Russian military trains. Volunteers save lives and collect vehicles, drones and medical aid. The Belarusian diaspora helps Ukraine around the world. Journalists and activists expose Russian propaganda and the regime’s crimes.
And in Belarusian prisons, people are still being held for solidarity with Ukraine and resistance to Russian aggression.
This is the real Belarus. Not Lukashenka, who handed our land over to Russia to attack Ukraine. Not his propaganda and not his generals.
But Belarusians who chose freedom and stood alongside Ukraine. We, the Belarusian democratic forces, will do everything within our power to help Ukraine win. To prevent Belarusians from being drawn into this criminal war. To expose the regime’s complicity in the aggression and collect evidence of its crimes.
This year, we opened a mission of democratic Belarus in Kyiv. Ukraine appointed a separate ambassador to work with the Belarusian democratic forces. These are important steps toward each other.
Because Ukraine’s victory will open a chance for change in Belarus as well. And a free Belarus will guarantee that the threat from the north will never again come to Ukrainian soil.
Dear Ukrainians!
I wish you victory. A just peace. The return of all prisoners and abducted children. The return of your people home.
And may you celebrate future Independence Days under peaceful skies”, Tsikhanouskaya said in her address.