Cichanoŭskaja calls for restoring faith in democracy in Havel lecture

September 27, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja called for renewing faith in democracy and commitment to freedom in the annual Václav Havel Lecture at the University of Chicago yesterday.
“The greatest threat to democracy is not always violence. It’s often fear, doubts, fatigue, loss of hope and simply forgetting who we are and what we stand for,” the politician stressed. “Together, we will prove, once again, that the power of the powerless can change history.”
Those who live in democracies often take their freedoms for granted, whereas Belarusians and Ukrainians know the true price and continue to pay it, she noted.
“Never stop looking for the truth. Never stop asking questions. Never stop learning. Keep an open mind and use the amazing tools you have available today. The goal of tyranny is to make you confuse truth and lies,” Cichanoŭskaja said.
The fight for democracy transcends borders and is a global struggle, the politician stressed.
More than 300 people attended the lecture, including students and academics. Cichanoŭskaja also met with the university administration and the Belarusian community of Chicago.

Cichanoŭskaja calls for a new UN meeting on crimes against humanity in Belarus
- Politics
- PoliticsPoczobut held in penal colony’s isolation wing amid health declineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityUkraine to try Volyn resident for sharing info with Belarus’ secret serviceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja: Belarus gains unprecedented attention in French foreign policyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSenators approve Belarusian-Russian deal against prosecution abroadThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka, Putin discuss regional situationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Security
- Economy
- SocietyHome tattoo turns fatal for Maładziečna womanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in January-SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuania scaling back security for Cichanoŭskaja – reportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityOfficials holding four-day mobilization drill across BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Wargaming co-founder given lengthy prison term in absentiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityPoland, Latvia see sharp rise in illegal entries compared with early October 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus, Oman sign memorandum on pulp and cardboard millThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEU delegation calls for all regime prisoners to be freedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarus, Oman sign visa waiver agreementThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian opposition figures meet with diplomats in ParisThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCritic says national pantheon reinforces Russian alignmentThe material is available only to POZIRK+