events in Syria sent warant signal to dictator in belus that the case of turbulence AI you rely on I mean Russia will not rescue you now belus the exiled opposition leader of belus is calling for her her Countryman to overthrow the incumbent leader Alexander lucenko speaking to Politico Sana shush Kaya said lukashenka who's a Putin Acolyte and a proponent of Russia's war in Ukraine was not Invincible Sana ran for president after her husband who's a leading opposition candidate was arrested and jailed during the 2020 election campaign and she fled afterwards and has been living in
Lithuania as an exile ever since then welcome now to the program SP Lana hi yeah good to have you here now we've been given on this program and and across the news in this country and much more widely we've been giving so much coverage to the fall of Assad in Syria is it right that are you taking encouragements forl from that for the prospects the chances of removing the regime of lucenko you know the situation in Syria showed us that uh dictatorship are not dictators are not invincible and dictatorship usually collaps when nobody expect this
and like it was with Berlin Wall I don't know also Soviet Union so we as the Fric forces have to be prepared for this but also uh events in Syria send ven signal to dictator in belus that the case of turbulence AE you rely on I mean Russia will not rescue you so they will accept you you know in Russia give you Refuge but uh they will not help you in a proper moment and of course it showed weakness of Russia in uh the moment of the attack in Ukraine but you know it's good for
us because we and Putin means we and lukashenka and uh very soon I hope you'll gain new being opportunity to uprise again in barus well let's let's then talk about your hopes for an OP an uprising at the right moment when might that be me there are elections aren't there atlana in Belarus in January I say elections they are sure to be rigged election but it's not your view that that is the time for opponents of the regime to take to the streets and act is that correct uh for sure it's not the correct moment
because uh what's going to happen in belus in January has nothing in common with elections it's fast imitation it's like ritual reappointment of lukashenka by lukashenka but the situation now in belus four years of repressions like life like in gulak and this so-called election will not change a lot for belus because lukashenka is still uh uh you know a lie to Putin uh ban resistance went underground and uh this so-called election will not legitimize lukashenka in the eyes of Belarusian people and I don't want people to sacrifice in vain right because we have to be
prepared for really proper moments that might be connected to the victory of Ukraine or people's unrest in b or some economic troubles or something else can happen in the world so like black swor will appear so that's why it's not the pro moment but of course I ask uh people to resist um securely you know safely at this very moment and of course we call our Democratic Partners preliminarily uh recognize these elections as non legitimate as fraud not to legitimize Lenka what then would be an appropriate time for ukraini for belarusians to act in your
views L uh as I said before you know it's uh the proper moment or moment of opportunity might be connected with the victory of Ukraine that's why you know uh the victory of ukrainians are so important for us belarusians that's why we advocating so much the world to give uh this wonderful country and brave ukrainians everything they need to win this war because they are not just fighting for themselves they are fighting actually for Many Nations and for uh Europe as well so uh this might be connected with if something happens to something happens in
Russia or some some like natural issues like health of Lenka but mainly here is to be prepared for this to have strong agents of democratic forces to have unity in Democratic movement and uh European world or Democratic world to be prepared for these changes as well right now look is it is it a a a worry with you are you concerned that Putin having been humiliated by the fall of his ally in Syria may be more likely then to defend lucenko if he comes under the kind of pressure you want to see uh you know
Belarus of course strategically important for Russia because it might be launching a pet for attacks not only on Ukraine but also on uh our Western actually neighbors but uh and and that's why you know Putin is supporting lukashenka so much but I have to say that European World Democratic World should not underestimate the importance of B regarding you know Democratic countries it's it's so important not to leave belus and people one to one with this Russian Beast we ask you to help us to fight with dictatorship and fight with the Russian imperialism so helping bans
is very small cost that influence uh Russia a lot because they have to pay lukashenka more and more just to keep him as a lie you know to contribute to propaganda and we as ban people resist to this so what waren us that in the case of possible escalation on the battlefields of Ukraine vus again can be used as launching pet for Russia this is disturbing us and our partisans inside the country have to be prepared for this tell me when you look at what is going on in Ukraine and when you look at the
the uh the confrontation between NATO and uh and Russia the political confrontation of course NATO is backing backing Ukraine although not engagement militarily the leader of of NATO Mark rut says that NATO is not ready for a long-term confrontation with Russia suggest it's time to change to something like a like a war footing what do you want from NATO now in your view as NATO looks at Russia and this Potential Threat you know I think that uh this Alliance have to support all those Nations uh who are fighting against Russia against dictatorship and uh we
people in belus and Ukraine we really pray people but we can't uh win this war alone we need strong allies and you know uh I think that uh dictators hear such like words that we are not able to win you know we are not be able to to uh stay strong strong you know full on time it's percepted like weakness and they uh challenge uh NATO you know aliance and and democracy uh more and more and uh it's embolden them so I think that aliance is strong enough to counter uh dictatorship to counter Russia and
they have to play it clearly we will confront you as long as it's necess to win you now then what what is it that you hope for in the war in Ukraine what is the outcome you hope to see realistically hope to see maybe in this coming year uh I haven't met any person you know including ukrainians who don't want peace in Ukraine but it should be a just peace we can't sacrifice territories of Ukraine just to please uh dictators you know I I think that's the world it's not Ukrainian War it's our global war
for freedom and that's why I I really want to decisiveness uh among Democratic strong powerful countries uh regarding ukrainians give this country everything they need to win uh the war to defeat the dictators and then we all together can celebrate okay s thank you so much for talking to us this afternoon that ISL shikisha who is the opposition Exile leader from uh bellus
