Their pre-election rallies attracted thousands. THE Svetlana Tichanovskaya, Maria Kolesnikova and Veronica Tsepkalo gave hope to Belarusians and at the same time became a symbol of the struggle for democracy in their country and around the world, which made them the number one opponent of the dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
After 26 whole years in power o Mr Lukashenko has made it clear that he will run – and win – a sixth term in the August 2020 elections.. However, the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the dangers of which he ostentatiously ignored, intensified the discontent of the citizens.
In May of the same year o banker Victor Babarico, the blogger and businessman Sergei Tichanovsky and former head of state “High-Tech Park” Valeri Tsepkalo announced their candidacy for the presidency. Their plans failed, as the first two were arrested and sentenced to many years in prison, while Tsepkalo managed to leave the country. Determined not to lay down their arms, the three spouses joined forces.
Kolesnikova and Tsepkalo rallied behind the candidacy of Tichanovskaya, a professional translator and mother of two without any political experience, who at her rallies pledged to release political prisoners and hold fair elections.
«I am not a politician and I do not need any power, but my husband is in prison“, He said during such a rally in Minsk in front of 60,000 supporters. «“I had to send our children to a safe place and I left a quiet life for all of us.”
Repression instead of freedom
On the evening of August 9 the announcement of the supervisory committee that Lukashenko secures 80% of the vote and Tikhanovskaya just 10% sparks protests, the largest the country has ever seen. For three months the gathered crowd demanded Lukashenko’s resignation.
The repression was immediate and continues to this day, at least 1200 people to serve prison sentences for their participation in rallies and more than 300 NGOs to be disbanded. There are no independent media, except those based in foreign countries.
Uprooted lives
Under pressure from the secret services Tihanovskaya left Belarus and now lives in Vilnius, Lithuaniafrom where as the leader of the democratic forces of her country she continues to fight against the Lukashenko regime.
In September 2020, the Kolesnikova, a flutist by profession and studying in Stuttgart, was abducted by strangers in central Minsk. A day later he reappeared on the Ukrainian side of the border. There, in order to stay in her country, she tore up her passport, boarded the car that had taken her to the spot and returned to Minsk, where she was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
“I am honored to follow the path to freedom and change with my people”she said in an interview with DW from inside the prison.
Tsepkalo continues to work abroad in the field of technology and continues her struggle for change in her country through the Women’s Foundation of Belarus, while her husband also lives in exile.
The Charlemagne Prize
The three women are honored with Charlemagne Prize as «a unique model against dictatorship, oppression and state injustice“And for”their courageous mission for freedom, democracy and the defense of human rights and therefore European values».
Svetlana Tichanovskaya and Veronica Tsepkalo will be in Aachen for the award, which has previously honored celebrities such as Churchill, Adenauer and Pope Francis, while Kolesnikova will represent her.
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