Leader of Belarusian opposition movement speaks at Perry World House about fighting for democracy

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition party, spoke about her experience fighting for democracy at Perry World House on Sept. 26. 

Tikhanovskaya, who is currently in forced exile, leads the democratic movement against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. In the talk, titled "Standing Up to a Dictator," she described her local and global fight for democratic values, as well as her experience uniting Belarusians to advocate for free and fair elections. 

Tikhanovskaya explained that she became a politician after her husband, Sergei Tikhanovsky, was arrested for his opposition to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. In response, she ran as a presidential candidate herself in 2020. Lukashenko assumed the role after a landslide victory, despite widespread speculation about election fraud. 

Tikhanovskaya spoke about the political uprisings that occurred across the country as citizens demanded fair elections and democratic reforms. She also described the Belarusian government's response, which included imprisoning thousands of peaceful protesters, journalists, and political activists and forcing others, including Tikhanovskaya, into exile. 

During her talk, Tikhanovskaya highlighted the importance of international solidarity in the fight for democracy. She emphasized the need for those living in democratic societies to engage with and support those fighting for similar values. 

"I want people to understand that the fight for democracy is a global fight,’" Tikhanovskaya said. 

While abroad, she has called on the international community for continued economic and political isolation of the Lukashenko regime, accountability for its crimes, and greater support for Belarusian civil society. 

Tikhanovskaya also highlighted the role of the Belarusian diaspora as instrumental in the pro-democracy movement, from organizing protests and providing financial support to those still in Belarus to keeping Belarusian culture and identity alive. 

Tikhanovskaya said that the Belarusian struggle is inherently linked to the broader global fight for democracy, drawing parallels between the situation in Belarus and war in Ukraine. 

"We see how dictators are making coalitions, and they don’t respect democracy," she said. "Ukraine and Belarus are intertwined — without free Ukraine there will be no free Belarus, and vice versa." 

Amy Gadsden, Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and Executive Director of Penn China Initiatives, said that events such as this one play a crucial role in raising awareness about the reality of living under dictatorship and the importance of protecting democratic freedoms together. 

"When more people know the stories of those who risk their lives for democracy, the harder it becomes for governments, NGOs, and other institutions to ignore them," Gadsden said.

Gadsden highlighted Tikhanovskaya’s strong female leadership, adding that her actions demonstrate how women can "upend negative stereotypes and perceptions and succeed as political leaders."

"Part of her political appeal, for instance, stems from the narrative she crafted of being a teacher, a mother, and a wife," she said. 

Linda Gayle, a College first year who attended the event, said that she was struck by Tikhanovskaya’s humility and her emphasis on being an "accidental politician." 

"A lot of times we think of politicians or leaders of these movements as part of a different world, like standing apart in a higher conduct," Gail said. "But Tikhanovskaya emphasized that she was just one of us."

Kyilah Terry, a second-year PhD student in political science at Penn, noted how Tikhanovskaya’s story reminded her of the privileges she often takes for granted as an American. 

"Svetlana kind of reopened my eyes to being aware of the privilege that I do have, like being part of American society," Terry said. "I have a responsibility as a voter to make sure that this is a possibility for other countries and other people elsewhere."