On October 25, the discussion “Security and Freedom Beyond the Border: Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltics” took place in Vilnius. The Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine (LDLU) co-organized the event together with the Lithuanian Liberal Youth (LLY).
The discussion focused on three key topics: freedom of speech, the confrontation between democracies and autocracies, and the impact of the situation in Belarus on the security of Eastern Europe.
Member of the European Parliament Dainius Žalimas (Renew Europe), former Belarusian political prisoner Akihiro Hayeuski-Hanada, LDLU representative Vladyslava Yakovenko, and International Affairs Coordinator of the Youth Bloc Aliaksandra Doinich shared their experiences. The discussion was moderated by Ainaras Butkus, a board member of the Lithuanian Liberal Youth.
The speakers noted that liberal youth organizations must have their own strategies for interacting with the Belarusian opposition. They emphasized the need to support Belarusian communities abroad and their integration into their host countries. In particular, there is a need for assistance in organizing events aimed at preserving the language and identity of young Belarusians.
Separate issues of the discussion concerned Ukraine. Vladyslava explained that after the start of the full-scale invasion, people in our country began to speak more freely about Russian imperialism. She also drew attention to how modern Ukrainian youth express themselves through actions: spreading information about Ukraine, volunteering, or joining the military.
Over the past eight years, the LDLU team has continuously supported and expanded interaction with like-minded people in the Eastern European region. Given the constant threat from the Lukashenko regime in the north, we consider the development of a comprehensive strategy regarding Belarus to be an urgent need.
We thank the co-organizers and participants of the discussion!
