Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Belarusian Opposition Leader | Defending Democracy & Human Rights
About
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is the leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus. As the former presidential candidate, she led the largest pro-democracy protests in Belarusian history, challenging the authoritarian rule of Alexander Lukashenko.
Tsikhanouskaya now lives in exile, where she continues to advocate for free elections and human rights in Belarus. Her firsthand experience navigating a political crisis has made her a sought-after speaker on topics of organizational culture, leadership, and the fragility of democratic institutions.
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How to be fearless in the face of authoritarianism
How do you stand up to authoritarianism? And what does it mean to be "fearless"? In this powerful talk, housewife-turned-politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya describes her unlikely bid to defeat Belarus's long-time autocratic leader in the nation's 2020 presidential election. Painting a vivid picture of how small acts of defiance flourished into massive, peaceful demonstrations, she shares a beautiful meditation on the link between fearlessness and freedom, reminding us that we all have what it takes to stand up to injustice - we just need to do it together.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at Web Summit 2025
| Event | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Web Summit | 2025 | 🇵🇹Lisbon, Portugal |
| TEDWomen 2020 | 2020 | 🇺🇸Palm Springs, United States |
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