‘Lukashenka Persuaded Me to Stay, But My Aswer Was Strictly Negative’

"New Domracheva" told how the dictator persuaded her not to leave for Ukraine.

A few years ago, Daria Blashko was considered one of the stars of our biathlon: in 2015, she became two-time world champion among juniors, and a year later she won the Crystal Globe of the IBU Junior Cup.

The Navapolatsk native was even called the second Domracheva. However, she was not able to build a successful career in the homeland. Two years ago, together with her personal coach, Blashko unexpectedly refused to play for the Belarusian national team and moved to Ukraine.

Having arrived in May at the training camp in Raubichi, Blashko answered questions of the Tribune.

- Is it true that at the end of 2017 you met with Lukashenka?

- Yes, but I don`t think it's worth discussing.

- Let's discuss it as little as possible. When were you when you got an invitation?

- At home. In Navapolatsk.

- Did you go to the meeting with Makhlayev?

- No. I was alone.

- Was that a long conversation?

- Yes. Before that we had a long talk with Valery Vakulchyk (head of the KGB and former chairman of the Biathlon Federation), and then with Lukashenka. It was a very long conversation. I think, about an hour or an hour and a half.

- Was it the most difficult meeting in your life for you psychologically?

- Well... There was some stress, because it was the meeting with the person who held the highest position in the country. Besides, I had no idea what the conversation would be about. I didn't even think about the topic he would discuss. Frankly speaking, there was complete uncertainty. And that was exactly what scared me. But by that time I had already announced my decision that I would not go back and could not change it.

- Did Lukashenka offer you to stay?

- Yes, there were moments when he offered to return, but my answer was clear: "No. I knew that it was no longer possible.

- Did you believe that there was no future here?

- Yes. There were moments that I was talking about earlier. And looking back, I realize that there is no future here.