The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola welcomed Belarus’ Sergey Tihanovski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to the European Parliament, whom she described as a powerful symbol of resilience and the struggle for a democratic Belarus.
Dear colleagues, Today, we are joined by my friends and global inspirations Sergey Tihanovski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Dear Sergey, it is an honour and a joy to welcome you after five long years of brutal and unjust imprisonment by Lukashenka’s regime. This House has been calling for your freedom since day one, and it is so good to see you finally free. Dear Sviatlana, as a longstanding friend of this House and an outspoken voice both for Sergey’s freedom and for the freedom of all Belarusians, it is an honour to welcome you to the Hemicycle once again. Now, for the first time, both of you are here with us in Europe’s House of Democracy — reunited and ready to continue your shared fight for a free Belarus. Thank you both for agreeing to address this House today. Yours is an incredible European story of endurance and the struggle for democracy, and this House applauds your courage and fortitude. Just minutes ago, I announced Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia as the winners of this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Like you, dear Sergey, Andrzej was imprisoned under false charges and tragically is still jailed. And as members of Belarus’ democratic opposition awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize, I am sure you both can appreciate this Prize’s importance in recognising Andrzej’s work and his plight. Today, this House sends the clearest of messages to Andrzej Poczobut, to all those still cruelly and unfairly imprisoned by Lukashenka’s regime, and to all Belarusians still hoping and pushing for a free, democratic future: the bonds that bind us Europeans cannot be broken. Europe understands that the age of dictators is over. Over the last three years, Members of this House, many of you here, have sent hundreds of postcards carrying messages of hope and support to Belarusian political prisoners. I wrote one personally to Sergey. Last year, this House signed a Letter of Intent on Cooperation with the Belarusian democratic forces which deepens our collaboration and condemns the acts of Lukashenka’s regime. Now, dear friends and colleagues, we must build on this momentum and push for the release of the over 1,200 political prisoners still behind bars. As you say, dear Sviatlana: “we can’t stop, we have to keep working.” Sergey, Sviatlana, your vocal defiance and your presence here today are proof that the fight for a free and democratic Belarus is alive and strong. Europe stands with you and will continue to support your efforts. Long live Europe, and long live free Belarus.