Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
20 August 2020 | Strana dlya zhizni
“My dear Belarusians, employees of BelarusKaliya, MTZ, Grodno Azot, and
other businesses!
You are the symbol of a new, free Belarus. We are a peaceful, hardworking nation. We are the force that can change and is already changing the future of our country. The country he wants to steal from us. Like he already stole our vote and mutilated our brothers, sisters, husbands, and children. To stop this arbitrariness, we must unite. It’s time to unite.
You have already shown incredible unity and showed steel endurance. Thank you so much for that! You have scared the dictatorship. It trembles in fear before you, your strength, and Your courage. That’s why you’re feeling tremendous pressure now. That’s why you’re being threatened. The strikes have forced the dictatorship into a corner. They’ve struck at its very heart. That’s why they are now trying to divide you and pit you against one another by all means. After all, if we are all united, this regime won’t stand a single chance.
Strikes are absolutely legal and powerful weapons against the regime. They know that, and that’s why they’re trying to intimidate you. Leave fear to the dictatorship. Remember, you are not alone. All of Belarus is with you. Support funds have already donated millions to help you survive the pressure and not break under their threats.
The future of Belarus, and therefore the future of our children, now depends on your unity and your determination. So I ask you to continue and expand the strikes. Don’t be intimidated. Unite. We’ll make those in power, who have locked themselves away in their palaces, hear our voices that they stole from us.
Our goals are simple: stop the violence, release political prisoners, and hold new, transparent, free, and fair elections. Together, we are strong, a force that no dictatorship can withstand.
Remember, only together can we build a country for life.”
