Tsikhanouskaya on forceful regime change in Belarus, the likelihood of freezing war, and the Russian "opposition"

The leaders of the Belarusian protests, once cautious and balanced, have changed significantly.

They have left their restraint behind, as confirmed by Western interlocutors.

For example, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of Belarus' democratic forces, now openly calls on partners to provide Ukraine with long-range weaponry and other arms necessary for effectively destroying the Russian invading army.

This stance contrasts sharply with the leaders of the "Russian democratic opposition," who oppose supplying weapons to Ukraine.

European Pravda met with Tikhanovskaya in Vilnius, where she has been living under Lithuania's diplomatic protection since 2020.

Read more in the article by Sergiy Sydorenko, the European Pravda editor – Tsikhanouskaya: a coup in Belarus is possible, and Belarusian fighters in Ukraine could play a role.

We always understood that Russia is an enemy of Belarus’ independence. But during the 2020 protests, we were very diplomatic and cautious in our statements about Russia because we didn’t want to wage another battle alongside the one against Lukashenko.

But when we saw Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, and the war itself, there was no room left for diplomacy.

Ukrainians inspire us. You are incredibly brave. You had Maidan. But comparing Yanukovych to Lukashenko is inappropriate. We had no independent media, no strong anti-Lukashenko political parties (as Lukashenko had banned them for years). We did what we could back then.

We didn't have any system back then. It was a people's revolution. Now we are stronger. We have structures, unity, and cooperation. We work with each other. When the next window of opportunity arises for Belarus, which I closely link to Ukraine's victory, it will be much easier for us.

We have Tsikhanouskaya's office functioning as the "President-elect office," a Unified Transitional Cabinet acting as a "proto-government," and the Coordination Council, which serves as an embryonic "proto-parliament."

We, as democratic forces, must be prepared. Ideally, through fair elections – but, of course, there could be other scenarios. A palace coup is possible, and in that case, our military personnel currently in Ukraine could play a role.

To Putin, Belarus is a 'balcony over Europe and Ukraine.' He needs Belarus to always pose a threat to Ukraine and the West. Why did he ultimately station his nuclear weapons in Belarus? To use them as blackmail.

Russia, along with Lukashenko, wants to erase Belarusian identity through russification. This is a creeping occupation.

2020 was a turning point in Belarusians' self-awareness as a nation. More people are now learning and teaching Belarusian.

The fates of Belarus and Ukraine are intertwined. A free Belarus is impossible without a free Ukraine, and vice versa.

I stress at every Western meeting: Ukraine's victory is the priority. Belarus should not be forgotten, but Ukraine must get all the necessary weapons to win.

Victory means Russian forces leaving all Ukrainian territory and no longer posing a threat. A frozen conflict would prolong the war, benefiting neither Ukraine nor the democratic world.

We Belarusians know that Russia’s imperial ambitions threaten both Ukraine and Belarus. Russia does not view either country as independent.

I am 100% convinced that Belarusian troops will not fight against Ukraine. We do not share Russians' hostility toward Ukrainians.