- Title: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: A symbol of change for Belarus
- Date: 30th September 2021
- Summary: In an interview with Reuters, Tsikhanouskaya says she sees herself as a symbol change whose role is deliver new and fair elections in Belarus. VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (FILE - AUGUST 22, 2020) (REUTERS) BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA SITTING FOR INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, SAYING: "You know, during all this election campaign, I have not seen myself as a politician. During all this campaign, I have pushed myself forward and forward and I don't see myself in politics now - I am not a politician. But this is my fate now and this is my mission, so I don't have a right to step away - I have to continue. I have to take this mission and not to leave it. I just have no right." TSIKHANOUSKAYA SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW Tsikhanouskaya visited the Polish capital of Warsaw on September 9, where she met with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and addressed students at Warsaw University. WARSAW, POLAND (FILE - SEPTEMBER 9, 2020) (REUTERS) TSIKHANOUSKAYA AND POLISH PRIME MINISTER, MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI, MEETING SUPPORTERS TSIKHANOUSKAYA AND MORAWIECKI WALKING PAST SUPPORTERS
- Embargoed: 14th October 2021 01:40
- Keywords: Belarus election Belarus opposition leader Belaurus Lukashenko Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya protests
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Various
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA00CEWXT553
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: QUALITY AS INCOMING
Exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among the contenders for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
The 38-year-old former English teacher has been become the unexpected figurehead of popular resistance to the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, after her husband, a prominent video blogger, was jailed and other candidates were barred from running in the presidential election in August 2020.
Tsikhanouskaya's unforeseen candidacy drew thousands of signatures of support for her nomination and her campaign rallies attracted tens of thousands.
Pro-government media ridiculed the aspirations of the stay-at-home mother to become president.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, said he won the election and Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania with her two children after a crackdown on protesters, fearing persecution.
Tens of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets for nearly two weeks following the contested election.
Tsikhanouskaya has since met with foreign leaders to press for their support and stronger actions against the Belarusian government. She set up an opposition council from exile.
She told Reuters that
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