Belarusian opposition leaders Sergey Tikhonovsky and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the European Parliament (EP), calling on the European Union (EU) to support the Belarusian people's struggle for freedom and democracy. This meeting took place five years after the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus.
Redaksiya reports that when European Parliament President Roberta Metsola received Sergey Tikhonovsky and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Parliament, she emphasized that their struggle is proof of Belarus's free and democratic future. Metsola stated that their presence in the European house of democracy shows that courage will not be silenced and hope will not be imprisoned. She noted that the European Parliament stands with them and every Belarusian who desires a free and democratic future.
In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the European Parliament's support for Belarusian democracy and recounted the story of her husband Sergey Tikhonovsky's arrest and release. She called for continued international pressure to free over 1300 political prisoners in Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya added that sanctions are working, regardless of what regime supporters say. Touching upon Ukraine, Tsikhanouskaya stated that the Ukrainian people are fighting not only for their own land but for all of us. She urged the EU to give Ukraine "everything it needs" to win and to "weaken Putin by sanctioning his oil revenues and confiscating his assets." Tsikhanouskaya stressed that the weaker Russia is, the weaker Lukashenka will be. Sergey Tikhonovsky, after spending five years in solitary confinement, stated that his main priority is to achieve the release of political prisoners held in Belarusian prisons. He regretfully noted that efforts to change the Lukashenka regime in 2020 were unsuccessful and that democratic forces did not benefit from more European support at that time, which allowed Russia to seize power. Tikhonovsky called on Europe to intensify its efforts and take the initiative as a strategic ally by supporting the Belarusian people's struggle for freedom and democracy, so that Belarus can be a neutral bridge between the EU and Russia.
After the speeches, Members of the European Parliament discussed the situation in Belarus and voted on an accompanying resolution five years after the fraudulent presidential elections. Contact information was provided by Baptiste Chatain, Press Officer (FR), and Polona Tedesko, Press Officer (SI). Additional information and the resolution, as well as product information, were also provided.