The leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was a guest on Euronews Albania this Thursday, where she gave an exclusive interview analyzing the political situation in Belarus and Russia’s influence in the region.
Tsikhanouskaya is in Albania to participate in the “PACT OF FREE CITIES” Summit, where mayors and representatives from around twenty European capitals and cities have gathered in Tirana.
In her interview with journalist Thimi Samarxhiu, she appealed to Western states to support Belarus in its fight for freedom against the authoritarian regime of Lukashenko.
“I am grateful to the mayor for giving me the opportunity to be at this summit. I came here to explain to all the guests why democracy is important, why, in such turbulent times, people should not take democracy for granted, but rather protect and fight for it,” she said.
Tsikhanouskaya thanked Albania for its support in the opposition’s resistance against the authoritarian regime in Belarus.
“Albania is supporting us greatly in the fight against tyranny. It is trying to help us in our resistance, to stand with us against every intervention happening in Belarus. People here have big hearts, and they are a nation that has gone through tyranny themselves, so they understand that we are fighting for freedom and democracy,” she stated.
The Belarusian leader emphasized that Belarus today resembles the Stalin era, where people are afraid to speak as they risk imprisonment. She stated that Lukashenko did not win his seventh term, but rather took power in a country where there are no opposition political parties or free media.
“Belarus is crucial for Europe’s security—without Belarus, there will be no peace and stability in Europe. That’s why we are asking countries to help us in this fight, just as Ukraine is fighting for the values that we all believe in. If you are fighting, you cannot win alone. We are fighting against a dictator, and we need help to combat this regime through sanctions.
People live in constant fear—we are living as if it were Stalin’s era or like Iraq at this moment. People are under pressure, there is no freedom of speech, no political parties, no media. Everything is destroyed; society no longer exists, and we cannot even talk about elections,” she said.
She also revealed that her husband remains imprisoned in Belarus, and it is unknown whether he is still alive or dead.
“The last time I spoke with my husband was five years ago, for only five minutes, as he had already been sentenced. For the past two years, I have not heard a single word from him. I cannot visit him, I cannot receive letters from him, and I do not know if he is alive. Our children write letters, but they get no response. It is an unbearable pain,” she said.
Tsikhanouskaya concluded the interview with an analysis of global geopolitical changes following Trump’s return to the White House. She expressed hope that Trump will pressure Putin to withdraw military troops not only from Ukraine but also from Belarus.
“We are observing how the situation in the U.S. is changing and how it is affecting the whole world. It presents a new perspective for relations with them, but I believe that democratic values and security issues remain a priority for America. Our task is to reintroduce Belarus to the American administration. Without Belarus, there will be no peace in the region. Trump’s administration can put pressure on Putin’s regime, which is why we are calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops not only from Ukraine but also from Belarus,” she said.
