Belarus on the Brink. What Now?

In her address to the IIEA, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Leader, discusses the possible ways forward for the Belarusian opposition, the feasibility of new elections, and what possible role she believes Ireland can play.

The outcome of the Belarusian Presidential elections on 9 August 2020 led to peaceful protests among the people of Belarus and the emergence of a broad democratic movement against the incumbent Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

In her address, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya argues that the government of Belarus responded to these protests with violence and repression, including the detention and imprisonment of political opponents, continued harassment of civil society and of independent media. She also highlights how the hijacking of a Ryanair flight in May 2021 and subsequent detention of Raman Pratasyevich has exacerbated relations between Belarus and the EU and undermined peace, security and rule of law in Europe. Finally, she argues that despite growing political pressure and economic sanctions, Aliaksandr Lukashenka continues to refuse to engage with democratic opposition representatives. 

About the Speaker:

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is a Belarusian human rights activist and opposition leader who contested the 2020 Belarusian presidential election as the main opposition candidate, following the detention of her husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski. Following the disputed result of the Presidential Election, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya has been based in Lithuania as the official representative of the Belarusian democratic opposition in exile where she heads the Coordination Council to facilitate the peaceful democratic transfer of power in Belarus.

Before running for President, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya was an English teacher and interpreter, and has since been awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament. She also has very close ties to Ireland, having spent many summers in Ireland since she was a child.