Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
On Saturday, Germans gathered to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a structure that once divided the city into East and West for decades during the Cold War era. On November 9, 1989, communist East Germany opened its borders, granting citizens the freedom to travel to the West for the first time in many years.
During the celebration in Berlin, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya shared her thoughts with Euronews regarding the ongoing repression in her home country. She emphasized that for many Belarusians, the fall of the Berlin Wall holds profound symbolic significance.
“For Belarusians, the Berlin Wall has a very important symbolic meaning. This reflects what Belarusians are currently experiencing,” Tsikhanouskaya remarked. “The wall that separated East Berlin from West Berlin represented a divide between a better life and a worse life. What was once a physical barrier in Berlin has now transformed into a political wall in Belarus,” she explained.
When the Berlin Wall fell, families and friends who had been separated for over 28 years finally reunited. This monumental event also allowed Germany to reunite and establish Berlin as its capital once again.
Tsikhanouskaya: “The Berlin Wall Did Not Fall by Itself”
Tsikhanouskaya drew parallels between the struggles of East Germans and the challenges faced by the people of Belarus under the repressive regime of Alexander Lukashenko. She asserted that only the Belarusian people have the power to bring about change in their country.
“The Berlin Wall did not fall by itself,” she emphasized. “The German people fought daily for its collapse.” Just as West Germans encouraged their East German counterparts to strive for freedom, Tsikhanouskaya believes that the Belarusian people require support from democracies around the world.
“I am certain that the wall in Belarus will eventually crumble. While it depends on us Belarusians, global solidarity is also crucial,” she stated. “We cannot dismantle this political wall alone. We need allies, solidarity, and assistance,” Tsikhanouskaya urged. “When you experience solidarity, it ignites inspiration and hope.”
The Role of Western Democracies
Tsikhanouskaya articulated that Belarus is on the front line of the struggle against dictatorship. However, for the regime’s political wall to collapse, Western nations must maintain strong pressure on Lukashenko’s administration. She contended that aiding the Belarusian people in their quest for freedom involves holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions.
“The people of Belarus must believe that all crimes committed will not go unpunished,” she stressed.
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In 2020, many in Belarus sought to reclaim their freedom by protesting against the fraudulent election results that allowed Lukashenko to remain in power. Unfortunately, many faced brutal police crackdowns, with freedom fighters imprisoned or forced into exile. However, Tsikhanouskaya remains hopeful, noting, “The Berlin Wall did not simply fall without effort, and neither will Lukashenko’s regime. It required the relentless work of countless individuals at that time.”
