Uladzimir Nepomniashchykh: Square to Make Lukashenka Pack His Things and Escape

People who expressed their anger in the kitchens have already taken to the streets.

Opposition politician Uladzimir Nepomniashchykh shared with Charter97.org his impressions of the mass rally of presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Homel, which involved more than ten thousand people.

- It was just amazing emotions. Some moments made me cry. I'm not such a sentimental person, but there was a feeling that I was about to cry.

- Do you think Siarhei Tsikhanouski would be proud of his countrymen if he was at large?

- I am sure of it. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that if Siarhei was at large, more people would have come to the rally in Homel.

When the event was over and people started to dismiss, I was walking about a kilometer and a half home and young people with flags accompanied me all the way. They were shouting and singing and the cars were beeping in support. It's a great feeling of unification of all the people.

The people awoke. This is a wonderful feeling that the opposition activists have spent all these years not in vain. I think that we have also contributed to the awakening of Belarusians. We did not sleep, fought, sat in prisons and paid fines.

I think that now we will all sleep in peace. We will be able to speak out without any fear in a free and independent country. We will speak openly, honestly and breathe easily.

- You have been in opposition for a long time and participated in many rallies. What is the difference between the previous rallies and one we observed on July 26 in Homel? What is their zest?

- Previously, one could see many familiar faces, opposition activists at protest actions in Homel, but now there are many new faces.

People were tired of being small people. They want to be free and independent. They want to earn good money, not to be afraid of anything, travel around the world and show that we are not worse than others.

The people have awakened and want to live in a free country without Lukashenka. Now there is active propaganda, which tries to show people, for example, that Tsepkala and Babaryka are allegedly thieves. Some people can't already predict what Lukashenka will say in five minutes. Most people do not believe these words, while those who've been involved in this propaganda should use their mind.

- You've participated in this campaign as a "candidate for protest" from the very beginning. Tell us, how have Belarusians changed over these months?

- I feel something changing in me as well. It seems to me that we should go and vote for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on August 9, but I'm sure that there will be fraud, so only the Square can save Belarus. There's no other way.

As soon as we vote, we need to protest peacefully. Only this can bring down the criminal power. Lukashenka understands how many crimes he committed and his place is in prison. He will stand till the end. However, if many people step up, there will be no blood, and Lukashenka will just pack his things and escape. Troops, police and the rest will take the side of the people. The main thing is not to be afraid and go to the Square.

Only a peaceful Square. As far as I know, even employees of enterprises and factories say that if the elections are rigged, they are also ready to support the people and stop working.

- Is there a critical mass for the change of power in Belarus?

- I think that everything is possible. Judging by the Sunday rally, a really large number of people will rise. Only on that day, there were ten thousand people. The police didn't stop anybody. People were coming with flags and chanting Long Live Belarus.

People are no longer afraid and it gives great hope. If the authorities are mean to falsify, people will come to the Square.

I'm a quiet opposition member; I can't fight back these young men in black. However, young people are already standing for themselves. This is just the beginning. The authorities do not understand that they should be afraid of people not just Statkevich and Nepomniashchykh.

The main principle of democracy is the alternation of power. If a person stays till the end, it will end badly for him. There is a reason for this system. People have experienced it. If the ruler stays till the end, he ends up like Gaddafi or Ceausescu. Every person decides his fate Lukashenka made his choice back in 1996.

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