Fair Elections Remain Best Way For Changes

Belarusian people have a right to independence, freedom, and national development.

Santo Domingo hosts a meeting of the Council of the Socialist International - the world union of more than 100 Social Democratic parties. The presidential candidate of Belarus from the Belarusian National Congress, leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada) Mikalai Statkevich presented his report at this meeting. Please see the text thereof below:

Dear friends!

The world is emotionally watching the dramatic struggle of the people of Venezuela for freedom. We see the consequences of the authoritarian rule, with the goal of complete control over the country, and not its free development.

Mr. Madura’s methods of state administration are largely borrowed from his friend, the Belarusian dictator. But Belarus is saved from economic collapse by the huge help of Russia, to which Mr. Lukashenka promised the “unification” of our countries. Because of the difference in size, this means absorption of Belarus by Russia.

The Russian aid is now decreasing. But the Belarusian regime in response only increases social pressure on citizens and refuses the necessary reforms. The tension in the country and hatred to the dictator are growing. The desire for change is stated by 80% of respondents.

We would like peaceful change, the best way for which is fair elections. But the votes at the Belarusian “elections” have not been counted for a long time. Here, Mr. Maduro is still very far from his teacher Lukashenka.

In order to avoid protests against brazen fraud during the “election”, the dictator now allows only fictitious rivals to run, those who are ready to confirm his “victory”.

At the suggestion of our party, the Belarusan National Congress coalition nominated me as a presidential candidate. But the dictator has long been prepared for this. After my release in 2015 from a 5-year imprisonment, the authorities for 8 years illegally prohibited me from participating in elections as a candidate.

The Belarusian people will no longer reconcile with the virtually un-alternative electoral farce instead of fair and free elections.

Another “elegant victory” of the dictator can end in a popular uprising. Another hotbed of conflict can appear in the region.

We will seek the restoration of the constitutional right to participate in elections, and the democratization of electoral legislation. We want Belarusians to get a chance on a peaceful path to changes.

Narodnaya Hramada appeals to all fraternal parties for solidarity. First of all, we ask the parties whose countries are represented in the UN Human Rights Committee to speed up the consideration of the statement of my unlawful sentence.

We appeal to the parties from the EU countries. The help of your governments to the Belarusian dictator hated by the people without real concessions on their part discredits the ideals of democracy and the EU itself in the eyes of Belarus. Demand the full fulfillment of the conditions of the EUfor starting the dialogue with the dictator of the EU - not only the release, but also the rehabilitation of all political prisoners. As well as the ceasing of repression against activists and independent media. Among them are the leader of the independent trade union Henadz Fiadynich, the youth leader Dzmitry Paliyenka, the Charter-97 website, journalists of the Belsat TV channel, and the editor of the portal Tut.by.

I also appeal to our colleagues from Fair Russia. Any responsible political forces of Belarus are ready to take into account the national interests of your country. But we demand to take into account the interests of our people, their right to independence, freedom and national development. Including - to the turnover of power.

Of course, your generals are tempted to take advantage of our struggle against the dictatorship and intervene to get the territory of the “strategic balcony”, which they consider Belarus to be. But our people will not accept an attempt at the independence of the country, and attempts to return them the hated dictator on foreign bayonets. And then the sympathies of the majority of Belarusians to Russia will turn in the opposite, and the “Belarusian balcony” will turn into a “cauldron”. This has happened in our history.

Only mutual respect of rights allows us to create a reliable and long-term basis for a strategic partnership between our peoples.

I am asking the delegation of Fair Russia to convey this message to the leadership of their country.

Dear friends! Despite the conflicts that tear apart our planet, the attempts of dictators in different parts of the world to suppress people's will for freedom and justice, the course of history is inexorable. Thanks to human dignity and solidarity, the cause of freedom will prevail throughout the world.