The Lukashenko regime is trying to sow division within Belarus’s democratic forces and turn them into competing groups.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya spoke about this tactic at the Munich Security Conference, noting that the situation requires efforts from the opposition to preserve unity.
According to her, leaders of the democratic movement – Sergei Tikhanovsky, Maria Kolesnikova, Viktor Babaryka, and others – have recently been released from Belarusian prisons.
“At the same time we see the regime’s attempts to promote narratives of division, to split us, to turn the democratic forces into competing groups, as is happening in the Russian opposition. My task is to preserve the unity of the democratic forces. We have created alternative institutions of power that operate quite effectively.”
– Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
Unity and Strategies of the Democratic Movement
She stressed the need to maintain a shared strategic unity, even if the tactics of the Belarusian opposition may differ.
The leader called her recently meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, very important.
“We have always, to the extent possible, supported Ukraine. We cannot provide billions or military equipment, but we can demonstrate solidarity on the political and international arena. I always call for greater aid to Ukraine, spreading the narrative that Ukraine must prevail. Our volunteers are fighting in Ukraine, defending this wonderful country, and also defending Belarus.”
– Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
She suggested that the cautious attitude of the Ukrainian authorities toward the Belarusian opposition has been driven by fears of reopening a “second front” against Ukraine.
As part of a joint strategy with Kyiv, Tikhanovskaya sees a new phase in the relations between the countries and a more active dialogue toward European integration.
“I hope that we will manage to work more actively on the Belarusian-Ukrainian strategy, to integrate not only Ukraine but also Belarus into the European community of nations”
– Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
Tikhanovskaya also noted the move of the office from Vilnius to Warsaw: in terms of work, nothing has changed, but part of the team will be moved to Poland to strengthen the presence there, where there are more civil society organizations and media.
“Half of my team continues to work from Vilnius, the other part will be moved to Warsaw. Poland has significantly more civil society organizations, more media, so we need to strengthen our presence there”
– Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
Earlier, the leader of the Belarusian opposition informed Lithuanian lawmakers of her decision to move to Poland. The first bilateral meeting between the president of Ukraine and Svetlana Tikhanovskaya took place in the Lithuanian capital, where prospects for cooperation and joint steps to support democratic movements in the region were discussed.
In summary, Tikhanovskaya emphasizes the importance of unity and a coordinated approach to the Belarusian opposition’s actions and active engagement with Ukraine within Europe’s aspirations.