An Exhibition Dedicated To Charter'97 And Natalia Radzina Opened In The European Parliament

• 12.06.2025, 12:36

Free speech is a powerful weapon.

The opening ceremony of the unique photo exhibition "Through the Lens: Defending Democracy and Freedom in Cyberspace" took place in the European Parliament building in Brussels on June 11.

The exhibition, organized by the Swiss company Proton, which provides secure online services, and Lithuanian MEP Virginijus Sinkevičius, consisted of four parts. The first was dedicated to Charter'97 and its editor-in-chief Natalia Radzina. The other three were presented by Proton VPN Observatory (Proton's research program aimed at protecting free speech in cyberspace - note), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Hong Kong activist and founder of the Hong Kong Indigenous Party Ray Wong.

"This exhibition will take you back to key moments in Charter'97's history, from the opening of its office in Warsaw to the site's blocking in 2018. The photos also show the struggle of Belarusians for democracy"," the organizers announced the event.

The opening ceremony was attended by Proton founder Andy Yen, Lithuanian MEP Virginijus Sinkevičius, editor-in-chief of the website Charter97.org Natalia Radzina, prominent Hong Kong activist Ray Wong and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty representative Christine Fetzko.

Proton founder Andy Yen spoke about two key reasons why the exhibition is important:

- Firstly, because it is important to remember. We recently marked the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square tragedy in China, where some 10,000 students were killed. This event is now virtually erased from the collective memory of more than a billion people. It is displaced, forgotten, as if it never happened.

This is why it is so important to create a space where activists can share their stories, talk about their struggles. And it is especially meaningful that this is happening within the walls of the European Parliament. Events like this remind us why we cannot afford to forget. Because tyranny triumphs when memory is silenced.

The second reason why this event is so significant is that today we live at the intersection of technology and values. And it is no longer just a question of ideals or political views - it is also a question of economics, opportunities, strategic choices.

Andy Yen identified Europe's main advantage in the 21st century:

- It is not the ability to scale faster, like the Americans, or the art of copying, like China. Europe's true competitive advantage is our values.

The U.S. has become the largest exporter of what I call surveillance capitalism. It is a system that permeates our daily lives, our economy, our culture. In response, Europe must offer the world something different: privacy, freedom, democracy.

And now we have a unique opportunity before us. After all, more than 5 billion people - about 70% of the world's population - live in conditions of unfreedom and injustice. The world is in dire need of alternatives, and European value-based services are beginning to gain credibility. Journalists, companies are increasingly turning to European solutions because they are losing faith in American and Chinese platforms.

But this opportunity can only be seized consciously. Europe must remember where it stands. And that means - when laws are created and decisions are made in these halls, we have an obligation to remember those who will tell their stories here today. Because that is how we protect what makes us Europe.

It is not only about protecting memory. It is a defense of the future, including the economic future, for the entire continent.

Thank you to everyone who has come today. I am honored to be here together with those who defend freedom - in word, in action, in truth.

Lithuanian MEP Virginijus Sinkevičius spoke about the importance of freedom of speech.

- I am very happy to open this exhibition and to see the Belarusian site Charter97.org represented here. Belarus is always in my heart. I have relatives in that country, and I have been reading the Charter97.org website since 2014.

In Belarus right now there is a strong repression, the opposition is severely persecuted, people are killed there. Many have either disappeared or are in prisons - this is the reality. This is the reality in Belarus, this is the reality in other countries as well. And that is why it is extremely important that we are here today - to remind ourselves once again: freedom of speech is not given for nothing, it must be protected.I think we all hope that the situation will improve, that there will be more democracy and freedom of speech in the world. But, unfortunately, now we are seeing the opposite - the situation is getting worse. Therefore, the responsibility lies on each of us.

In her speech, Natalia Radzina, editor-in-chief of Charter97.org, spoke about the situation with freedom of speech in Belarus:

- Belarusians have been fighting for the freedom of their country for more than 30 years. It's hard for you to imagine - for so many years the dictatorial regime of Lukashenko has been flouting all laws and international norms, rigging elections, destroying his opponents by killing and imprisoning them. In small, 9-million Belarus, up to 10,000 political prisoners are imprisoned today. Among the prisoners of conscience are dozens of independent journalists and bloggers. Absolutely all independent media in the country are blocked and forced to work from abroad. In terms of freedom of speech, Belarus has slid down to the most cannibalistic African countries and North Korea.

That is why I am very grateful to Proton, which is opening today at the European Parliament in Brussels an exhibition on the pressure on freedom of speech in dictatorial countries, including Belarus. And I am incredibly grateful that the Charter'97 website became an example of Belarusian independent media fighting for freedom of speech. Proton also supported our site in the most difficult times: when we were blocked in Belarus and there was a need for urgent financial support. We will never forget it. Thank you!

"Charter'97" is the oldest independent website in Belarus, which has been operating for 27 years. We have been the leaders of the Belarusian Internet for many years, despite the pressure and persecution from the authorities. The founder and the first editor-in-chief of our site Aleh Byabenin was killed in Belarus on the eve of the 2010 presidential election, many journalists went through prisons. I myself was imprisoned in a KGB prison in Minsk, where I was tortured. Today in Belarus, criminal cases have been brought against the journalists of the Charter'97 website, and we face huge prison sentences.

But the repression did not stop us, and we continued our work - first from Lithuania, neighboring Belarus, and then from Poland.

I know that I work with real heroes - because cooperation with a website like Charter'97 carries huge risks for journalists. The dictatorial regime has recognized our site as "extremist", although we are simply doing our professional duty and covering the events taking place in the country.

We understand the main thing - if the regime takes so much effort to try to destroy one media outlet, it means that this media outlet is effective and is feared. This simple thought has always supported me and helped me to cope with numerous difficulties and problems that we have been facing in our work for almost 30 years.

And one of the main problems today is the decrease of international interest and attention to the situation in Belarus. Russia's war against Ukraine has been going on for many years, the last three years - a large-scale, total war on all fronts. And in 2022, dictatorial Belarus has become a springboard for the Russian army's offensive against Kiev. Belarusian dictator Lukashenko is Putin's puppet and is kept in power only thanks to the Kremlin's support. But the Belarusian people today are a victim of the regime, not part of it. In 2020, an attempt of revolution was made in Belarus. The whole world saw how about a million people came out across the country to protest against the dictator, who once again rigged the elections. However, unfortunately, the Western world lacked the determination to actively support the Belarusians in their struggle for freedom. The sanctions against the dictatorship were imposed very late, and today they need to be strengthened and intensified to have an effect.

Natalia Radzina explained why it is important to support the Belarusian independent media today:

- Media is an important and perhaps the last tool to influence the situation in Belarus. People should receive objective information from independent media, not from Russian and Belarusian propaganda channels.

Lately, however, support for Belarusian independent media has significantly decreased. American funds have closed after the arrival of President Trump, and European funds have begun to cut back their assistance. Many Belarusian media, including Charter'97, are on the verge of survival. Because of the lack of assistance, at some point we can simply close down. And who will benefit from this, except the dictator?

I often hear from politicians that the European Union should strengthen its defense capabilities, and that a huge number of funds are needed for the production and purchase of armaments. But media is also a weapon. Russia is waging a hybrid war against Western countries, and information warfare is part of this global war. Russia spends billions on its propaganda channels, and Europe is unable to support the few Belarusian media?

What do the Europeans need it for? To protect themselves from a new possible invasion of troops from the territory of Belarus. After all, Putin plans to use our country again as a springboard for an offensive - but this time not only in Ukraine, but also in the Baltic States and Poland. It was the independent media that with their influence were able to stop the direct participation of the Belarusian army in the war against Ukraine in the past years: thanks to constant coverage of events and transmission of objective information, they were able to propagandize and deprive the Belarusian soldiers of the desire to fight.

Therefore, I urge European politicians today to think strategically and realize the importance of free media. Free speech is not just a sound, it is a powerful weapon.