Democracy in Exile: A Conversation with Belarus's Opposition Leader

PAST EVENT VIDEO

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discusses the country’s struggle for democracy.

A conversation with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Juliet Sorensen as they discuss the country’s struggle for democracy on stage at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Ana Miyares Photography

Speakers

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Juliet Sorensen

Event Date

September 27, 2024

About This Event

As Belarus continues to face political turmoil and international isolation, the struggle for democracy remains at the forefront of the country's future. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emerged as a powerful voice for change in Belarus when she ran against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in the contested 2020 election. The results led to the largest protests in the country's history and pressure on Tsikhanouskaya and other activists to leave Belarus. How has her role as opposition leader evolved while in exile? What strategies are Belarusian activists employing in their pursuit of free and fair elections, the release of political prisoners, and democratic reforms? Join us for a conversation with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as we discuss these questions and more.

About the Speakers

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Belarusian Opposition Leader and Activist

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is a prominent Belarusian opposition leader and pro-democracy activist. Tsikhanouskaya advocates for political reform and human rights in Belarus on the international stage and has received several human rights awards for her work, including the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Juliet Sorensen

Director, Rule of Law Institute and Program in Rule of Law for Development, Loyola University

Juliet Sorensen is a clinical professor of law and the director of Loyola's Rule of Law Institute and Program in Rule of Law for Development. She was previously on the faculty of Northwestern and served as the executive director of Injustice Watch, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization focused on systemic inequities in the courts.