“Breaking the Dictators' Cycle in Minsk and Caracas: Female Leadership and the USA Commitment”

Join us for an enlightening public discussion exploring the powerful role women are playing in the fight for liberty in Belarus and Venezuela. As authoritarian regimes tighten their grip, female leaders like Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and María Corina Machado are emerging to fill the void left by exiled or imprisoned figures, driving the movement for change from the streets of Minsk to the rallies in Caracas.

This engaging dialogue will delve into the 2025/2026 geopolitical landscape, highlighting the United States' involvement in diplomatic efforts that successfully led to the release of political prisoners. We will reflect on the harsh realities faced by these nations:

• Belarus 🇧🇾: Over 900 political prisoners were held during the peak of the 2020 crackdowns, with many still subjected to inhumane conditions despite international efforts leading to the release of hundreds, including prominent activists like Ales Bialiatski.
• Venezuela 🇻🇪: The number of political prisoners surged post-2024, with nearly 800 individuals arbitrarily detained according to Foro Penal's monitoring.

We'll also discuss the recent actions taken by the United States 🇺🇸 in supporting democratic transitions across the Western Hemisphere and Eastern Europe, underlining how female leadership remains vital for nurturing hope for a democratic future.

Opening Remarks:

📌 Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (BLR), president-elect of Belarus (online)
📌 Kryscina Šyjanok (BLR), head of the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic
📌 Jan Darmovzal (CZE), former political prisoner in Venezuela

Panellists:

📌 Lizaveta Zhuchkova (BLR), political scientist and niece of a released political prisoner
📌 Felipe Torres Gianvittorio (VEN), journalist at LatAm Explained
📌 Luis Solano (VEN), author of "Impact of Chavez’s Misiones in the Venezuelan Economic Crisis"
📌 Veronika Bílková (CZE), head of the Centre for International Law at IIR, member of the Venice Commission

Moderator:

Tomáš Brolík (CZE), journalist at Respekt weekly

📍 Location: Letenská 120/5, 118 00 Praha, Česko
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