Tsikhanouskaya: Repressions against Belarusian culture are greater than in Soviet times

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at an OSCE ODIHR event dedicated to preserving national and cultural identity under authoritarianism and the role of youth in Belarusianization. The event was organized by about 30 OSCE participating states that are part of the informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus.

Tsikhanouskaya, among other things, stated that “Lukashenka's regime has made Belarus a hostage of Russia and is gradually dragging it into war,” reports “Svaboda.”

“But security is not just about the army, militarization, military exercises, or migrant attacks used as weapons and organized by Russia and Lukashenka. Just yesterday, together with BelPol, we presented a new report on the militarization of Belarus. A significant part of it is dedicated to education, media, and youth, as well as how Russia tries to influence Belarus through these spheres,” stated Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

She recalled the policy of Russification, assimilation, and destruction of everything national, everything Belarusian, stating that propaganda is raising a young generation of Belarusians who are to perceive Russia as their own country.

“History is being rewritten. Culture is being destroyed. Youth are being Russified — through Russian centers, mass culture, propaganda, exchange programs, and schools. These crimes will leave a deep wound and a lasting mark on the entire nation,” she stated.

According to her, in recent years — after 2020 and especially after 2022 — repressions against Belarusian culture and identity have only intensified in Belarus.

“I think that even in Soviet times, they did not have such a scale as now,” Tsikhanouskaya said.

“Most of all, I am concerned about the state of the Belarusian language. Belarus has endured almost two centuries of Russification. I myself grew up in a Russian-speaking family. I knew the Belarusian language mainly thanks to my grandmother in the village. But in recent years, like many Belarusians, I am gradually returning to the Belarusian language. Because I realized that the Belarusian language is also a form of resistance to the 'Russian world.' It is also protection against Russian influence. Moreover, language is what unites Belarusians within the country and all over the world,” she emphasized.

Tsikhanouskaya says that Russia aims to destroy everything Belarusian.

“Russia systematically pursues a policy of Russification, assimilation, and destruction of everything national, everything Belarusian. With Lukashenka’s help, they are trying to turn Belarusians into obedient, loyal people, and ultimately — into Russians.

But I am proud when I see how young people in Belarus record TikTok videos in Belarusian, create videos for YouTube, discover the Belarusian language and culture for themselves. This gives me great hope. I am deeply convinced: while the regime fights against Belarusian society and culture, the task of democratic forces is to preserve all of this,” her Office states.

Tsikhanouskaya called on the OSCE and other international organizations to support independent media, civil society, and cultural initiatives that play a special role in the revival of the Belarusian language.

Tsikhanouskaya is convinced: while the regime fights against the Belarusian language and culture, the task of democratic forces is to preserve all of this. She called for linguistic and cultural repressions to be equated with repressions and human rights violations, and not to be considered as something secondary. Tsikhanouskaya called for supporting Belarusian initiatives in this area, expanding opportunities for young people to receive European education, for cultural figures and youth to obtain visas, and documenting repressions in the field of culture to hold those responsible accountable in the future.

• 16
• 0
• 2
• 1
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0