Blogger Siarhei Piatrukhin: Lukashenka Stooped to a Whole New Low. He Must Resign

The usurper must not run for a new term.

A well-known blogger and activist from Brest, Siarhei Piatrukhin, told Charter97.org about this.

- How do you assess the recent "parliamentary elections"?

- In my opinion, the authorities were terrified and removed all the candidates who could head people.

They appointed only pro-governmental people to commissions. The number of activists was minimal. Finally, they were scared at polling stations.

For example, they removed me from the polling station because, according to the chairman of the commission, I posted a video with what was sold in the buffet.

In my opinion, this is ridiculous. What does vodka, cheap drinks and food have to do with the polling station? Though I have enough information, I haven't uploaded it yet...

I think the biggest problem in power is that people don't trust them. People see that the police are traitors wearing shoulder straps, the officials are traitors stealing from people. They consider people cattle. Both the "elections" and the census that took place before prove it. Census takers were not allowed to houses; people ignored their questions. People knew that the authorities were collecting information. Many of my acquaintances did not want to participate in this dubious event and did not let census takers in.

- How do you assess the alternative campaign conducted by battery plant opponents, independent bloggers, the European Belarus civil campaign?

- I like and support everything that is directed against this antipopular system. I am happy that people are able to see an alternative.

The example of Brest activists, who have come into conflict with the authorities because of the environment, clearly shows how such movements develop.

At first, they thought the environment issue was the one to be involved in, but then they went into politics. Although they used to say: "No, we only stand for the environment". Then we saw that everything in our country was politics. The authorities put everything upside down.

European Belarus also scared the authorities. After speeches of its candidates, officials immediately decided to play it safe. However, there was nothing illegal in speeches of the activists of European Belarus.

The fact that the authorities got cold feet and prevented us from expressing our opinion on the Square and in other places is very indicative. It is contrary to our Constitution.

I liked what bloggers did during this campaign. It brings people together.

I would like to point out the events called "Meetings of free people". The first one was organized by blogger NEXTA, and the second one took place a week later. Their main feature is a great number of young people there. It's inspiring for me, the person who is about to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Let them said nothing extraordinary, but they were sincere. It was obvious that they supported Belarus. It was great to witness. I think that our future belongs to these people. They are not going to move somewhere, and I understand that the authorities cannot intimidate them.

They can make a difference because they see that the country faces an impasse. I can see that young people are also concerned about these strange "unification with Russia ". Lukashenka will now sell everything he can. He is just a monster for us. And the irony is that a person, absolutely alien to our country, runs the country...

- Two polar events became known in the media. On the one hand, this is a Brest woman who was carrying ballots by order of her boss to throw in, and on the other hand, there is an observer in Minsk Anna Tolchikova, who was not afraid to tell how the commission falsified the "elections". How would you comment on both cases?

- You see, as for Anastasia Kulichkova, who tried to throw in ballots, I can say that a whole generation has grown up like this. They know no political system but Lukashenka's. I think it's very hard for young people to become a normal person in such conditions. I regret that there are a lot of people like Anastasia Kulichkova. She was told and she did. She may not even realise that this is a crime, that it has no limitation period.

It's inspiring that such people as observer Anna Tolchikova exist. I do believe that we have a lot of smart young people, who have the right values, want something and dream about something. Anna Tolchikova's video is amazing, although I won't say it's extraordinary. The election fraud was expected. I guess there were a lot of such observers, just not everybody got into the trend, did not want to record video for some reason. But it's a fact that we have a lot of normal people.

- By the way, how would you comment on the farewell to Kalinowski and his comrade-in-arms in Vilnius? Were you impressed by the number of Belarusians who went there with national flags?

- I was not brought up in the "white-red-white" tradition, because I studied in a Soviet school. Unfortunately, the history of our country was hidden and the values of the Soviet Union were imposed on us. And it is very hard for me to change. But as a person who started speaking Belarusian when I was 40 years old, I am sure that one should learn the history of one's country, find out who, for example, Vytautas or Kalinowski was. And do not at the age of 40 or 35 but since childhood.

I would have gladly gone there, but I cannot travel. I realise how important these events are for people and the country. For example, I do not consider myself a descendant of the Soviet Union now. I feel Belarusian. I am very happy when I see white-red-white flags because they are closer to me than the Soviet red-and-green ones.

I watched the broadcast from Vilnius. Everything was decent and clear. It's a failure that the official leadership of the country paid so little attention to this event. This man, Deputy Prime Minister Ihar Petryshenka, who escaped from journalists, did not comment on anything... All of this indicates that occupiers run the country.

One can't treat historical flag, heroes this way. Only occupiers turn heroes into criminals, and villains into heroes, as it happened to Suvorov. The streets have the names of criminals: Lenina, Dzerzhinskogo and others. This is the occupation too. These people have nothing to do with our country, they should not be here. But they have been in our minds for so many years. All this has a very bad impact on the education of young people. Why should young people know who Lenin or Dzerzhinsky is? They are criminals. But one won't see Vytautas, for example. No street has his name. Or Vseslav of Polotsk Square... When the new government comes, in my opinion, it is very important to change the toponymy.

- You have made a video message of Belarusians. They speak out against Lukashenka's nomination for the seventh term. How did you come up with this idea and what did you want to say with this video?

- In his speech, Lukashenka said, "let Belarusians decide whether he can run for the next term or not". That is, he gave us the ground. We spoke out that we're against it! There is nothing illegal in my opinion.

In addition, I believe that Lukashenka shouldn't be allowed to power anymore, because he stooped to a whole new low and it will only get worse.

For so many years of leadership, he has driven us in despair. Towns are in ruins, the retirement age increases, some strange taxes are introduced. What does he do?

He nominates this 22 years old "deputy". Who is this girl to him? This is spitting in people. It will only get worse with Lukashenka in power, I think.

It is also unclear what will happen to this integration with Russia. They are just waiting, I think...

I stand for non-violent protest. I believe that such examples as Armenia and Czechoslovakia, where people have taken part in mass non-violent actions, should inspire us. There should be many of us...

I'm not going to say I know how to do it. But I know that Lukashenka must resign. I think that he seized power. One person cannot stay in power for so long. There is the Constitution, respect it. Otherwise, it is a usurpation of power. However, everything ends up paying the price for usurper and his people. They just crossed the line - officials, courts and cops. They don't know what to do, and that's why they always fail.

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