29 March 2024, Friday, 17:07
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Yury Khashchevatski: Lukashenka Lost the First Fight

Yury Khashchevatski: Lukashenka Lost the First Fight
Photo by Euroradio.fm

Two roads lead to victory: the Square and the nation-wide strike.

A famous Belarusian documentary filmmaker Yury Khashchevatski stated that in an interview with Charter97.org and gave his assessment of the events in the country:

- People gradually get an image of Belarus that has been created by the careless attitude of the authorities elected in 1994.

In comparison with the campaigns of 2006 and 2010, I observe changes in people's minds. Our society is gradually maturing, coming to its senses; many people start evaluating the events not through fear but their pride and dignity.

On the one hand, I am glad to see that people observe a protest wave, neglect towards the authorities.

On the other hand, I do not want us to think that we have already succeeded. We must not back down but takes decisive measures when we need them the most. Because Lukashenka, although he is stupid and ignorant, knows that he utilises his last trump - intimidation.

The authorities will exercise very Jesuit and hypocritical methods - as it is being done to Siarhei Tsikhanouski.

Nevertheless, one must realize that the authorities act insidiously only until August or unless their sting is ripped out.

- How can we ensure a change of power? What kind of scenarios can work?

- The best way is to deprive Lukashenka of the opportunity to participate in "elections" at all. A nation-wide strike would be the most effective way. Moreover, self-isolation and the People's Quarantine during the epidemic planted the sense of ability to do without these authorities.

Besides, in addition to the nation-wide strike, we need active protest actions and the Square.

In fact, little effort is left for us to make. That's why we can't stop. On the contrary, we must do our best to involve both our neighbours and families in this struggle.

I do hope that this time we will be able to finally free ourselves. I do hope that we will not stop halfway thinking that everything comes to its place on its own. It will not! This enthusiasm, this civic determination should remain. More and more people must be involved.

That's when we'll win. But it is not the end. The next government that will replace Lukashenka needs a careful eye as well. We must demand: to reduce the presidential power to two terms; to return a normal Constitution without any "loopholes" for a dictatorship; to abolish all unconstitutional decrees and laws of Lukashenka's time; to return the national symbols.

I do not want us to miss this victory being increasingly excited. We do not know how to fight for long and to the end.

Lukashenka has lost only the first fight. But he has not yet lost this war. Now he is in his bunker in Drazdy behind the barbed wire. He has not yet been defeated. We must know this.

We must take permanent care of our future. This is our mandatory civilian job.

- What are the first steps to be taken today?

- I have already told you that the authorities are cunningly acting against us. The details of Tsihanouski's arrest in Hrodna come to mind. I will use the words of my young colleague, the poet, Dzmitry Rastaeu, to describe this dirty provocation:

The omen of a back-breaking era

and the link in the GULAG chain is

bastards coming to the rescue when there's nothing more to gain.

Anyway, the authorities turned to those who share their both spiritual and social "values".

Look how the authorities are trying to decapitate us, what they are doing with one of the people's leaders Siarhei Tsikhanouski!

Guys, God forbid, if we Siarhei face the fate of Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, Yury Zakharanka, Zmitser Zavadski...

Leaders are always liable to society. But you know, society is also liable to its leaders. One needs to be able to protect leaders. So our immediate goal is to release Siarhei Tsikhanouski. Otherwise, they can do to him whatever they want.

Remember what they did to Andrei Sannikov and our other leaders in 2010. We were not able to help them. Let us help Siarhei Tsikhanouski now.

- What can we do to release the people's blogger?

- We have two effective options to fight this power. We must clearly understand that we need only effective methods.

The first option is faster. Millions of people must take to the Square. Not only in Minsk. On the contrary, it's best if it happens across the country. Then no riot policemen will be enough to withhold the people.

The second option is a nation-wide strike. It is very effective and also less risky in terms of clashes. These options together are fatal for Lukashenka's power.

Sitting in self-isolation, we have already had a rehearsal of this strike. The fact is that our country has no raw materials and our authorities can survive only by stealing from citizens. If citizens stop paying taxes, they will collapse.

We need a combination of these two methods - the Square and a nation-wide strike.

- How can we preserve this unique mood until the Square and the strike begin?

- I'm not an oracle but I feel that this inspiring fervour can gradually fade away if we are constantly only among like-minded people.

After all, we all think in the same way. If everyone starts talking to those people who are still hiding from politics, this fervour can remain. Moreover, it can be passed on to others.

If we agitate until early August and share our mood with our grandparents, classmates and colleagues, fellow villagers and neighbours, then we will even extend it to other people.

I think it is a great way to help ourselves and our country.

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