Bialiatski: Joining the European Union — it's not a question of "I want it or not", it's a matter of the survival of Belarusians as a nation
The Nobel laureate delivered a welcoming speech at the "New Belarus" conference, which sounded like a programmatic address.
Ales Bialiatski at the "New Belarus" conference, August 8. Photo: Nasha Niva
Ales Bialiatski began his speech with gratitude. "First and foremost, I want to express my admiration and gratitude to everyone who today embodies the struggle for Belarusian values, for the independence and freedom of our Fatherland — political prisoners and their loved ones, human rights defenders, civic activists, volunteers, journalists, Belarusian warriors for independent Ukraine and Belarus."
"It is an honor for me to speak alongside Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya — who symbolizes the choice of a new free Belarus, and Ivonka Survilla — who embodies the tradition of continuity of Belarusian independent democratic statehood," he added.
Here is what Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski also said at the "New Belarus" conference, which is taking place in Warsaw on August 8-9.
The scale of repression has not diminished
Six years have passed since the beginning of the peaceful Belarusian revolution of 2020, which the Lukashenka regime suppressed with the assistance of Moscow. But
repression does not stop, and its scale does not diminish.
Even if a hundred political prisoners are released from prison (many of whom are forcibly removed from their homeland), another hundred inmates immediately appear. The authorities are consumed by fear, have no vision for the future, and are trying to preserve themselves by any means, surrendering the state sovereignty of Belarus and participating in the Kremlin's war crimes.
The only true guarantor of Belarusian sovereignty — a free people
The only true guarantor of Belarusian sovereignty is the free Belarusian people. They clearly defined their values six years ago, and they should have the final say in determining the system and fate of Belarus.
Subjectivity in the international arena — Tsikhanouskaya
It is now extremely important that democratic Belarus has subjectivity in the international political space. The free world perceives Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as a legitimate envoy of that free European Belarus which showed its dignified face in 2020. We are heard, despite difficult circumstances, especially after the start of the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022. This is an achievement that we must cherish.
We have something to compare it to
There is something to compare it to. For example, the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, with political prisoners, is very difficult. The latest news is the inhumane sentences for nine independent journalists. The prosecution demanded 14 years in prison for our friend, human rights defender Anar Mammadli, a laureate of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize of the Council of Europe. But the world does not speak loudly about this — both for pragmatic reasons and because the voice of another, non-Aliyev Azerbaijan, is not heard from high platforms.
"Without sanctions, we would still be in prison"
I want to thank everyone, both in Belarus and beyond, who sought our release, as political hostages, from Lukashenka. Your activism and firm position became the main condition for the United States to continue contacts with Minsk. I hope that this will continue to be the case and that this condition will be supplemented by the demand to stop further repression.
Sanctions for complicity in the war
In the 2000s, the Lukashenka regime, under pressure from sanctions, was forced to release political prisoners. Primarily because sanctions worked. Without the European sanctions, first and foremost, we would still be in prison. Let me remind you that sanctions were introduced mainly for complicity in the war, and there are currently no grounds to lift them.
Sentiments in Belarus
I was recently behind bars, where, although I had a specific circle of contacts, I saw and felt the prevailing sentiments. The spirit of 2020 has not disappeared. Millions of Belarusians are awaiting favorable opportunities for active participation in positive changes.
Dialogue and Negotiations
In my final statement at trial, I called for a national dialogue. Three years have passed, and I still adhere to the idea of a national dialogue. In it, for the sake of preserving independence and the very future of Belarus, a broad society, all its strata, as well as representatives of the current authorities — those who realize the dead-end nature of the regime's policy and share the value of independence — could participate.
Negotiations with the authorities are possible only when the regime feels the strength of its opponent. Therefore, we must not allow ourselves to be divided.
Do not allow us to be divided
Deeply respected are those Belarusians who first joined socio-political activities in 2020, were beaten, tortured, risked themselves and their freedom; many had to leave their homeland and are now in prison. My respect goes to both the youth and older people. The revolutionary wave of 2020 is not the first in our history, but another one. I am convinced that there will be another one, and we must prepare for it.
A component of the destructive strategy of the Lukashenka and Putin authorities is to sow conflicts, suspicion, divide and set us against each other along various lines, preventing the strengthening of Belarusian unity. Let us not fall for this old and unsophisticated tactic of the special services.
What the new diaspora should do
What should those who had to leave their Fatherland do? Do not wait for someone to give us prosperity, security, and freedom for Belarus. We must do all this ourselves. We must be ready for quick changes, but we must also accelerate them.
I hope that the newly established Ales Bialiatski Foundation will contribute to raising the Belarusian question at the international level.
Today marks a hundred years since the birth of Father Alaksandar Nadsan; tomorrow is the centenary of Yanka Zaprudnik. We, the new diaspora, should learn from their tireless dedication, resilience, moral and spiritual values, which were based on Belarusian identity and the Belarusian language.
A response to the "witnesses of normalization," Versteher, anti-Europeans
The global shift towards authoritarianism, towards the curtailment of democracy, is dangerous for Belarus, as it inevitably entails the revival of imperial atavisms in various countries. Therefore, we need to strengthen ties primarily with our democratic neighbors. To preserve independence and freedom, we must join the European political space — the Council of Europe, the European Union, and other pan-European institutions. This is not a question of 'I want it or not, I like it or not' — it is a question of our survival as a nation.
Let us not forget for a moment that the dark shadow of empire hangs over us. Belarusian national consciousness and the European values of democracy and freedom are indivisible.
Ales Bialiatski at the "New Belarus" conference, August 8. Photo: Nasha Niva
Dear friends, let us not lose hope and not cease our work. Our collective efforts today are a solid foundation for a future free Belarus.
I wish the participants of the "New Belarus" conference fruitful discussions, profound conclusions, and most importantly — firm confidence that we will win.
Long live Belarus!"