Hero Stories | Belarusian youth insist on their civic space despite repression: an interview with OEEK ahead of the Ottawa Civic Space Summit

Belarusian youth are living under long-standing repression, yet they have developed a modern, democratic mindset with the help of access to information via the internet, proximity to the European Union, and an independent civil society. How do they withstand the constant pressure and what future opportunities are there?

We discussed these issues with the Organisation for European Expertise and Communications (OEEK), a women-led, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization committed to strengthening civil society by providing capacity-building programs, expert support, and sustainable solutions.

This interview is part of a collaboration between DevelopmentAid, Resilient Societies and Cooperation Canada around the Ottawa Civic Space Summit, a global platform aimed at resisting repression, reclaiming civic space, and reimagining more inclusive democracies, with a dedicated focus on youth-led activism. OEEK is one of the organizations that will participate in the work of the Summit. For security reasons, the interviewee’s real name, age, and professional profile are not disclosed.

DevAid: The Ottawa Civic Space Summit is described as a new global platform to resist repression, reclaim civic power, and reimagine more inclusive democracies. From your perspective, where do Belarusian youth fit within that broader global picture?

OEEK: It is important to understand the context. Belarus became independent in 1991. In 1994, Alexander Lukashenko came to power. He has been ruling the country for 32 years and is still ruling today.

Young people in Belarus were born and grew up under his rule. But many of them are not isolated. Because of the internet, social media, proximity to the European Union, and the work of independent media and civil society, Belarusian youth have a modern, democratic mindset.

Unfortunately, they cannot participate in political life in their own country. Their last attempt was in 2020 during the presidential elections, when many young people supported Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (the Belarusian opposition leader and political activist- Editor’s note). The election results were falsified, and the massive repression began, which has continued for the past six years.

Today, promoting democratic values and human rights is unsafe in Belarus. The authorities label such activities as “extremism.” Hundreds of organizations have been given this label for undertaking general civic work, such as election monitoring or youth education.

When young people do not understand what is safe and what is not, this creates two effects. Some become afraid of any activity. Others become more creative in how they act and organize.

In my opinion, this reflects a global trend – as civic space shrinks in many countries, grassroots initiatives are finding new ways to work and show solidarity.

DevAid: One of the Summit’s aims is to connect front-line experience with high-level decision-makers. What are the key messages you hope to bring from your work with young people to donors, governments, and international NGOs in Ottawa, Canada?

OEEK: From what we see, young people need safe and sustainable support systems, not just short-term projects. This includes core funding, mental health support, and capacity building, especially in difficult environments.

My key message is that youth are not only a target group — they are partners and leaders. Support should reflect this, with more trust, flexible funding, and long-term commitments and investments.

DevAid: Across many regions, as in Belarus, young activists confront digital surveillance, legal restrictions, and public distrust. Which of these global pressures do you see most clearly in your context, and what responses would you like the Summit to prioritize?

OEEK: We can divide the young people with whom we work into several groups.
First, those who remain inside the country. They live under strong pressure from the state, with no freedom of association, limited access to the internet, and continuing rights violations. Today, there are more than 1,000 political prisoners in Belarus.

The second group are those who have left because of political persecution. These are young people living in European countries who cannot return to their homeland because of the fear of being persecuted. According to various estimates, they number between 500,000 and one million people.

Among them are former political prisoners who have been forced to leave the country, sometimes without any official papers. Many continue their civic and political activities while in exile. In Belarus, they are labeled as “extremists” or even “terrorists”, and the authorities often launch criminal cases against them in absentia.

DevAid: The Summit is being convened by Cooperation Canada and Resilient Societies, and supported by partners like DevelopmentAid, to strengthen civic space architecture worldwide. What does a meaningful partnership look like to you beyond visibility when it comes to supporting youth-led civic work?

OEEK: A meaningful partnership is about sharing power. It means involving youth-led organizations in decision-making, not just inviting them to events or consultations.

For us, it also means flexible and trust-based cooperation. Partners should understand the risks and realities on the ground and avoid over-bureaucratic requirements that can limit participation.

Another important element is long-term commitment. One-time support or short projects are not enough to build strong civic initiatives, especially in repressive contexts.

Finally, a meaningful partnership includes care – for example, supporting well-being and preventing burnout. When we talk about sustainable civic engagement, we mean offering support to people, not just short-term projects.

DevAid: One discussion in Ottawa will focus on reclaiming civic space across borders and in exile. Working with Belarusian youth inside and outside the country, what practical lessons can you share about keeping a civic community alive when people are dispersed?

OEEK: It is important to ensure safety for all participants, especially those who are still in the country. This can be achieved through special systems, security experts, digital solutions, and low-visibility approaches. Active youth inside Belarus can face prison terms just for participating in educational activities that have been funded from abroad.

Support for grassroots initiatives is also essential. This can include leadership development, community training, and financial support. Young people need to learn how to manage resources and make decisions themselves.

This is especially important for young people from authoritarian countries, where they have no experience or real opportunity to take part in open and fair elections.

DevAid: Civic space is more than traditional human rights; it is also linked to issues like climate justice, social inclusion, and economic inequality. How do your programs for young people connect civic participation to these wider debates, the Summit hopes to highlight?

OEEK: We totally agree that it is important to look at the intersection of different vulnerabilities. We use an intersectional approach because, within youth groups, some people are more vulnerable than others.

For example, we work with young migrants. Many were repressed in Belarus and could not remain in their country because they faced long prison terms for human rights activism.

After moving to a new country, they face new barriers—language, social pressure, and legal status. Also, because the Belarusian regime is seen as a co-aggressor in Russia’s war against Ukraine, sanctions affect Belarusian citizens who move abroad. For example, it can be difficult to open a bank account in another country, or existing bank accounts may be blocked.

Our work is comprehensive—we directly support people with legal, psychological, and educational assistance. At the same time, we work with public institutions to advocate for their rights, and with other organizations in Poland to explain the situation in Belarus and reduce prejudice and discrimination.

DevAid: Your all-women leadership team drives programs on civic engagement—how does that shape your approach to gender equality in repressive civic environments?

OEEK: Our all-women leadership team shapes our work in a very practical way. We do not treat gender equality as a separate topic—it is part of how we design and implement all our programs.

In repressive environments, women face higher risks and more barriers. Because of our experience, we pay more attention to safety, inclusion, and emotional well-being in our work.

It also influences our leadership style. We focus on collaboration, horizontal decision-making, and creating supportive spaces where different voices can be heard.

In practice, this means that we invite women experts and pay them fair fees. When possible, we also advocate for additional budget so women can travel with their children and arrange childcare support during events, because care responsibilities often fall on them.

We also support women to speak in public, take leadership roles, and negotiate higher salaries. This is important to help to reduce the gender pay gap.

DevAid: Youth civic space is shrinking in many parts of Europe, not only in authoritarian settings. Based on your experience, what specific safeguards or policies should be on the table in Ottawa, Canada, to protect youth-led organizations and informal groups?

OEEK: My answer may seem like a chapter from a book on espionage, but this is the reality: do not publish or share participant lists widely; use “no photo” stickers, because in some countries, even being identified from a photo can lead to risks for the person or their relatives, even if they live abroad. Allow participants to use pseudonyms. Clearly explain the security rules to all participants and make sure these are followed right from the start of the event.

DevAid: The organizers talk about “reimagining civic futures” and “igniting hope” at a time of repression. When you look at the next decade, what kind of civic future can young Belarusians aspire to, and how can global spaces like this Summit help to make that a reality?

OEEK: Unfortunately, in our region, the question of “peace” has once again become urgent. Young people simply want to live their lives in peace – to study, build relationships, and travel. These are very normal human wishes.

At the same time, two countries neighboring Belarus – Russia and Ukraine – have been at war for several years, and Belarus is indirectly involved because of the Lukashenko regime.

Some young people have the potential to become civic leaders and to engage in social and political life. However, in the current situation, their opportunities are very limited.

DevAid: This interview itself comes from the partnership between DevelopmentAid, Resilient Societies and Cooperation Canada around the Summit. What do you expect from media and communication partners when they cover civic space—especially when they highlight sensitive contexts such as your own?

OEEK: If partners ask not to publish certain information—such as photos, names of organizations, documents, or an affiliation with a specific group (for example, LGBTQ+)— this should not be treated as their preference, but as a necessity. Such information can lead to political persecution in their home countries.

It is also important to understand that activists who are in exile may react to “trigger” topics. I remember one case during an international meeting when the participants were asked to name their “dream city”—an ordinary icebreaker activity, right? Many people mentioned cities like Paris or New York, but Belarusians began to cry, because for them, their dream cities are their hometowns in Belarus—places they cannot return to, because they are political refugees.

DevAid: Finally, if you could hope for one concrete outcome to emerge from the Ottawa Civic Space Summit for youth civic engagement, whether that be a funding mechanism, a protection initiative, or a new coalition, what would you want it to be, and why?

OEEK: If I could see one concrete outcome from the Summit, it would be a clear idea for a project to support young people with fewer opportunities and connection to potential donors.

This includes youth initiatives both inside Belarus and among those who have left the country because of political persecution but want to continue working for their peers.

It is very important to create support that is flexible and accessible, especially for informal groups and young people experiencing high-risk situations.

We are also very interested in learning from other countries who work under similar conditions. The exchange of experience and practical approaches can help us to design better and more sustainable support systems.

The Ottawa Civic Space Summit is a new global platform to resist repression, reclaim civic power, and reimagine a more inclusive democratic future. The Summit will take place in Ottawa, Canada, from April 21 to 23, 2026. This bold gathering will bring together civil society leaders, civic space activists, governments, donors, media, academics, and private sector allies to ignite hope and drive change.