‘I Found Strength in Myself to Continue This Fight’

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fights for the Belarusian people while exiled from her own country.

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On Sunday, red and white flags dotted Freedom Plaza as members of the Belarusian diaspora in Washington, D.C., gathered to welcome Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the 39-year-old leader of the Belarusian opposition movement.

“We will not stop fighting until Belarus is free,” one speaker, a representative of the human rights organization Amnesty International, exclaimed.

When Tikhanovskaya’s car pulled up to the rally, the crowd gave her an enthusiastic welcome, flocking to the side of the road to see her disembark.

“It is a great achievement to be here and receive support from the United States,” Tikhanovskaya told the audience. “But I ask you to remember that our path towards freedom is long and challenging. We must always remember those who sacrificed their lives fighting for us and helped those fighting and now are jailed. I’d like to thank you Belarusians for your hard work, for your rallies, for your demonstrations, online campaigns, and support through solidarity funds. You’ve done a lot and I believe we could do even more.”

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  1. Avatar photo
    Jason Gibson

    She is an inspiring person

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    Jason Gibson

    President Biden must strike a more aggressive stance and put more pressure on lukashenko

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    Bill Nelson

    I am an admirer of Jay Nordlinger and his dedicated efforts to bring the opponents of oppressive regimes to the view of the general public. This follows in that tradition. Maybe there needs to be an NGO which helps to get these people the attention they need. This would be a chance for Fox News to actually do some good, with a weekly prime time show which focuses on one champion of freedom a week.

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      Chris L

      Jay is a national treasure in this.

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    Chris L

    “The world is losing its sense of democratic values … and strong democracies for sure have to be champions in supporting those who want changes.”

    This is why I see Belarus as a sort of case study for what to do with other authoritarian, despotic regimes throughout the world. If Lukashenko isn't toppled, I am gravely concerned for liberal democracy in general. But if they can turn it around sometime in the next year (one can dream), Cuba is a gimme, and North Korea and Venezuela can follow. Then Russia and China become afraid.

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      Bill Nelson

      No shot with North Korea.

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