Euroviews. It’s time to bring Belarusians back to the European family they belong to

For almost three decades, my nation has been in the hands of a pro-Russian dictator who rules by fear and denies our identity as a European country of free people. 

Our struggle for freedom and democracy in Belarus is not just a fight against the oppressive regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Russian imperial ambitions, but a journey to bring us back to Europe.

This week, I am in Brussels to strengthen the ties of democratic Belarus to our European partners. During this visit, I spoke at the Foreign Affairs Council before EU ministers and inaugurated the second meeting of the EU-Belarus Consultative Group, a platform for dialogue between Belarusian democratic forces and the European Union. 

I am confident that we can build new partnerships that will bring us closer to freedom.

The recent progress in the European Union’s talks with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia is a beacon of hope for us. It’s a testament that Europe is more than a geographical term – it's a symbol of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights.

As Victor Hugo once said, "A stand can be made against invasion by an army; no stand can be made against invasion by an idea." The idea of a united, democratic Europe is an unstoppable force, and Belarus is an integral part of this vision.

Europe won’t be complete without a free Belarus — and it won’t be safe until we remove the dictator who is complicit in Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine and guilty of crimes against his own people. 

He will continue to threaten our neighbours if left unchecked. But Lukashenka is not equal to Belarusians, just as our people are not equal to Russians.

Indeed, the key to unlocking Belarus’s potential lies in the hands of its people. We have witnessed the indomitable spirit of