00:01The decision by Belarus to designate Euronews as extremist is an act of revenge for honest reporting,
00:08opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Friday.
00:12In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Tsikhanouskaya said the move showed that
00:17Alexander Lukashenko's government remained afraid of independent information.
00:21It is revenge, revenge by the regime for Euronews reporting.
00:25Euronews covered the 2020 protests and it covered the election, which Lukashenko lost.
00:31It covered the service of political prisoners and the war, which started from Belarus.
00:36The regime didn't like this, and dictators like if everyone is silent and no one knows the truth.
00:43But the hypocrisy is that Lukashenko himself gave an interview to Euronews before,
00:48and now even watching them can be considered as a crime in Belarus.
00:53Tsikhanouskaya said that despite the ban, Belarusians will continue to look for independent information.
00:59Independent media are the backbone of our movement.
01:03Thanks to them, we can influence the situation on the ground.
01:06Thanks to them, most Belarusians know what is really happening in Ukraine,
01:10and the majority stand with Ukraine.
01:13Media, social networks, and tech tools help us stay connected and create safe spaces.
01:19She advised people in Belarus to make digital security a priority,
01:23including by using VPNs, keeping separate devices for accessing independent media,
01:28and avoiding contact with unknown accounts that could be linked to security services.
01:33You know, difficult conditions force us to be creative.
01:37That is the only way to survive under dictatorship.
01:40We Belarusians now have a unique experience that can help other captive nations
01:45that find themselves in similar situations.
01:48Above all, Tsikhanouskaya said the extremist designation should not deter Euronews from continuing its work.
01:55Watching Euronews or reading the Euronews website can land you in jail.
02:00Sharing Euronews news can become a crime.
02:04And it gives the KGB another excuse to prosecute people who are simply looking for information.
02:10Of course, those who work with Euronews or help with information are also at risk.
02:16The regime's goal is to stop Euronews from delivering honest information inside Belarus.
02:22But on the other hand, Euronews can take this designation as a badge of honor,
02:26because many decent people and organizations have been declared extremists by the dictator.
02:32It means your work matters.
02:34Thank you very much.
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