Svetlana Tikhanovskaya: I Must Admit, Opposition Lost Battle On Streets
Belarusfeed
3 March 2021, 01:25
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya admitted that the opposition “lost the streets”, but expressed hope that the protests will resume this spring. A former presidential candidate in Belarus said this in an interview with the Swiss daily Le Temps. The article was published on the eve of the leader of the democratic opposition visit to Switzerland.
“I have to admit that we have lost the streets, we have no means to fight the violence of the regime against the protesters. They have the weapons, they have the force, so yes, for the moment it seems that we have lost,” Tikhanovskaya told the paper.
At the same time, she noted that they are currently working on building structures for the “struggles of tomorrow”. She added that her team is currently trying to connect various opposition groups, including doctors, teachers, and ex-security officials.
“Our strategy is to better organize ourselves, to put the regime under constant pressure, until people are ready to take to the streets again, perhaps in spring,” the former presidential candidate summed up.
“Sometimes it seems that it would be better for me to return to Belarus and let them arrest me”
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said that every day she thinks about returning to Belarus. “Of course, I would like to do it safely. Ideally, when the situation has already changed. Or maybe with the help of European leaders,” she said.
“But I must admit that sometimes the struggle becomes so difficult, the pressure so strong that moments of despair come. Sometimes it seems that it would be better for me to return to Belarus and let them arrest me so that I would not have to take on these responsibilities, agree to these sacrifices, try to solve problems that seem insoluble. Yes, sometimes it happens. But then you realize that you cannot do this when you are a symbol, a national leader. You cannot leave it all. And you just take some time alone to cry.”
According to the former presidential candidate, the road to democracy is taking longer than planned. The politician believes that Lukashenko will agree to negotiations only when he “is cornered”. “And I’m afraid that he will leave a scorched earth,” she added.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also expressed hope that during her visit to Switzerland she will meet President of the National Council Andreas Ebi and UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to discuss the prospects for “international investigation of crimes in Belarus”.
“In addition, we would like Switzerland to start an investigation in hidden assets and corruption schemes of Alexander Lukashenko,” she added. The release of Natalia Hershe and other political prisoners will also be on the agenda.
“Lukashenko has long been using political prisoners as a bargaining chip, especially if they are foreigners. That is the way it happened with Vitaly Shklyarov, an American citizen who was released a few months ago in exchange for a call from Mike Pompeo. I spoke with Natalia Hershe’s husband and brother, and they are very worried. I don’t understand why Alexander Lukashenko doesn’t release her. Maybe he wants to get something from Switzerland or to show his power as an example to others?” she said.
3 March 2021, 01:25
“I have to admit that we have lost the streets, we have no means to fight the violence of the regime against the protesters. They have the weapons, they have the force, so yes, for the moment it seems that we have lost,” Tikhanovskaya told the paper.
For the first time, I'm going to visit Switzerland on March 7-10. I will highlight the story of Natallia Hersche, a dual Swiss-Belarusian citizen, sentenced to 2 years for peaceful protests. I also hope to meet @UNHumanRights officials to discuss how to restore justice in Belarus pic.twitter.com/Kp76blisZ9
— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) February 23, 2021
At the same time, she noted that they are currently working on building structures for the “struggles of tomorrow”. She added that her team is currently trying to connect various opposition groups, including doctors, teachers, and ex-security officials.
“Our strategy is to better organize ourselves, to put the regime under constant pressure, until people are ready to take to the streets again, perhaps in spring,” the former presidential candidate summed up.
“Sometimes it seems that it would be better for me to return to Belarus and let them arrest me”
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said that every day she thinks about returning to Belarus. “Of course, I would like to do it safely. Ideally, when the situation has already changed. Or maybe with the help of European leaders,” she said.“But I must admit that sometimes the struggle becomes so difficult, the pressure so strong that moments of despair come. Sometimes it seems that it would be better for me to return to Belarus and let them arrest me so that I would not have to take on these responsibilities, agree to these sacrifices, try to solve problems that seem insoluble. Yes, sometimes it happens. But then you realize that you cannot do this when you are a symbol, a national leader. You cannot leave it all. And you just take some time alone to cry.”
According to the former presidential candidate, the road to democracy is taking longer than planned. The politician believes that Lukashenko will agree to negotiations only when he “is cornered”. “And I’m afraid that he will leave a scorched earth,” she added.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya also expressed hope that during her visit to Switzerland she will meet President of the National Council Andreas Ebi and UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to discuss the prospects for “international investigation of crimes in Belarus”.
“In addition, we would like Switzerland to start an investigation in hidden assets and corruption schemes of Alexander Lukashenko,” she added. The release of Natalia Hershe and other political prisoners will also be on the agenda.
“Lukashenko has long been using political prisoners as a bargaining chip, especially if they are foreigners. That is the way it happened with Vitaly Shklyarov, an American citizen who was released a few months ago in exchange for a call from Mike Pompeo. I spoke with Natalia Hershe’s husband and brother, and they are very worried. I don’t understand why Alexander Lukashenko doesn’t release her. Maybe he wants to get something from Switzerland or to show his power as an example to others?” she said.
