EXCLUSIVE: Democratic world must respond decisively to dictators, Belarus opposition leader says

The democratic world must respond decisively to dictators and not seek to appease them, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya said in an exclusive interview with the international service of Poland's public radio broadcaster.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara

"Dictators cannot be reeducated. They cannot be appeased. They have to be fought," Tsikhanouskaya said.

Photo: Polskie Radio dla Zagranicy

Tsikhanouskaya, who leads Belarus' government-in-exile, spoke after travelling to Warsaw for an annual meeting of the Belarusian minority and members of Belarus' democratic opposition, hosted by Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

Z tego miejsca jako Prezydent RP, chciałem podziękować wszystkim wolnym Białorusinom, że jesteście na swojej trudnej, wymagającej tak wielu poświęceń, dla wielu z Państwa poświęcenia przebywania w więzieniu reżimu Łukaszenki, długiej drodze do niepodległości i suwerenności. I na… pic.twitter.com/KYX0Hlq0QH

— Kancelaria Prezydenta RP (@prezydentpl) January 14, 2026

While in Warsaw, she met with Polish Radio journalists and spoke with Agnieszka Bielawska of the broadcaster's English service about the current political situation in Belarus.

Click on the audio player above to hear the interview.