The discussion, titled “Defending Democracy’s Frontline Defenders: Disrupting, Deterring, and Recovery from Authoritarian Transnational Repression,” focused on growing threats faced by activists, journalists, and opposition figures outside their home countries. In her keynote address, Tsikhanouskaya warned that repression by authoritarian regimes increasingly extends beyond national borders, affecting dissidents and democratic actors abroad.

“In the past, repression was mostly limited to within a country. But today, even abroad, you cannot feel safe anymore. Dictatorships have learned to pursue their opponents wherever they are,” she stated. Tsikhanouskaya called for stronger international coordination, urging that the issue of transnational repression be brought before both the United Nations Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

Tsikhanouskaya also appealed to international partners to continue supporting Belarusian refugees, civil society, political prisoners, and independent media. She emphasized that improved legal pathways and integration measures would reduce vulnerability to intimidation and influence operations. Protecting Belarusians abroad, she argued, would also help European countries guard against infiltration and hybrid pressure linked to authoritarian regimes.

The Berlin discussion highlighted increasing concern among policymakers and civil society actors about transnational repression and its implications for democratic security. Tsikhanouskaya’s remarks underscored the need for coordinated international responses and continued support for democratic movements operating in exile.

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