00:00An important element in Russia's war machine is Belarus, a neighboring country with pariah status
00:06in Europe. Conversely, Alexander Lukashenko's regime benefits from Moscow support. But unlike
00:13in Russia, there is a strong pro-democracy movement in Belarus that is preparing in exile
00:18for the end of the dictatorship in Minsk. The opposition leader is Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,
00:24who works tirelessly for her country's freedom, as she did yesterday at the European Parliament in
00:30Brussels. I had the opportunity to speak with her about her take on the likelihood of the war in
00:36Ukraine spilling over into the EU. Look, I don't know what the plans of Russia and Lukashenko's regime
00:45are, but we're seeing what's happening in Belarus, for example, how regime is building new infrastructure
00:52that is not supposed to be there if a country is not like preparing for escalation or provocation.
01:00So I think that Europe has to be aware of what might happen, you know, and experts say about
01:08the Suwalki gap, about threats to Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and we already see this hybrid attacks on
01:15these countries. We see drones flying over their territories. We see these balloons over Lithuania
01:23that interrupts airspace. We saw already attacks on trains near Polish borders. So we see how like Russia is
01:33trying to test how far it will go until there will be reaction. But I'm absolutely sure that if such
01:41like
01:42physical attacks will take place, they are more certainly will use Belarusian territory while Lukashenko
01:49is there who is serving to Russia's interest. So that's why, you know, I encourage our European
01:56partners that please help Belarusians to get Belarus out of Russia's claws to make Belarus reliable partner
02:03and not the source of constant threat because these attacks, you know, on NATO alliance, it might happen at any
02:10moment.
02:11How would you describe Lukashenko's role in the current conflict?
02:18Lukashenko is the puppet of Putin's regime. He is ready to sell independence, sovereignty of Belarus just in exchange of
02:29political and economic support.
02:30He wants personally survive as politician. And in 2020 Putin saved him, saved Lukashenko and now Lukashenko is paying his
02:38debts.
02:39He is on the leash and the issue is how long is the leash. Putin can shorten it or make
02:45it longer.
02:46But it's illusion that we can like drag Lukashenko from Putin. They have this symbiotic relationship, they need each other,
02:56they use each other.
02:56And that's why I don't think that Lukashenko can be re-educated or that he can turn to his eyes
03:07to Europe.
03:09Would you say that the moment Putin's reign comes to an end, that would also be the end of Lukashenko's
03:18regime in Minsk?
03:19Look, I rather often hear from politicians that, oh, until something changes will come to Russia, nothing will change in
03:27Belarus.
03:27But I'm absolutely confident that changes in Russia can start from the changes in Belarus because in Belarus society is
03:36more consolidated.
03:37You know, we know that we voted against Lukashenko in 2020 and these anti-regime moods, they are still there,
03:45despite repressions, despite political prisoners.
03:49And, you know, it's much easier, you know, to help Belarusians to win our country back than to work with
03:57Russia and persuade all the Russians that they have to stop their imperial ambitions.
04:02You know, the contexts are different in Belarus and Russia.
04:05Recently, NATO shot down a drone over Lithuania.
04:10Is that a sufficiently strong message to Moscow?
04:15And how should NATO react if this happens again?
04:19You know, when this drone fell down, there was almost no reaction from NATO alliance.
04:25Like, drone didn't kill anybody, like maybe it's accidental.
04:27The next drone might harm somebody.
04:31So, you know, Russia also watches what will be the reaction from the Western countries.
04:37There is no reaction, okay, they can go further and further, as I said, test the borders.
04:42You know, and, of course, among population, you know, these narratives intensifying that the war can start, there might be
04:51attacks on Lithuania.
04:53And Lithuanian people, for example, they're not sure that the NATO alliance, you know, other countries will come to rescue
04:58them.
04:58We have to take example from Ukraine, you know, because before it was only attacked by Russia, now it is
05:06attacking back.
05:07I'm not, like, encouraging Europe to attack back immediately, but just to be prepared for possible counterattack, you know, if
05:15this happens, Europe has to be ready for this.
05:17I have one more, and your answer can be short.
05:22If you had one message to European leaders about the Russian-Bielorussian drone threat, what would it be?
05:36Don't panic, but be prepared.
05:38Don't panic, but be prepared.
05:39Don't panic, but be prepared.
05:40Don't panic, but be prepared.
05:41Don't panic, but be prepared.
05:41Don't panic, but be prepared.
05:41Don't panic, but be prepared.
