Belarusians Denied Legitimacy To Impostors

Hard truth from the Editor-in-Chief of Charter'97.

I can no longer silently observe what is happening, so I decided to speak out. Yes, that's quite harsh. Yeah, a lot of people won't like it. It is always easier to live through illusions. But maybe it's time to finally open your eyes or at least think a little?

I have not seen anything more senseless and pathetic than the so-called elections to the "Coordination Council" in 25 years of work as an independent journalist. Such shameless profanation has happened for the first time. 6700 out of almost 7 million Belarusians who voted for the participants of this farce, of which at least 500,000 are abroad – the figures are almost correct.

Belarusians simply ignored this mediocre theatrical performance, this parade of other people's ambitions and desire to play "politics" while sitting in safe emigration.

However, I should note that decent but naive people also took part in the so-called elections to the "Coordination Council", but for some reason, most of them did enter it. They were used as images. I hope they understand this now.

Over the past four years of the failed activities of Tsikhanouskaia's office and its bodies, it has become clear that these people do not want to work or win. Their goal is to simulate violent activity, inflate cheeks and "soap bubbles" in the form of unrealizable projects such as negotiations with the authorities or "passports of the New Belarus", engage in political tourism and increase bureaucracy, hiding behind allegedly popular support.

But it turns out that there is no support. The Belarusians denied them legitimacy and did not participate in the next play.

The life of these characters takes place in a parallel reality: with a kind of "leader", a kind of "cabinet", a kind of "council". They are not interested in real people with their real problems. They are building a "vertical", no different from Lukashenka. Former Lukashenka officials, security officials, propagandists and businessmen again acquired "positions". It does not matter that they are empty and useless.

The main thing is to sit proudly in cars with a personal driver and security guards as Tsikhanouskaia and Latushka do. Or to pull the wool over Western politicians' eyes, like Kavaleuski and Astapenka, who had previously done this in the Lukashenka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Or substitute people with a dangerous and vulnerable Peramoha plan, as Lieutenant Colonel GUBOPiK Azarau does. Or simulate activity, but never create a single real Belarusian unit in Ukraine, like Lieutenant Colonel Sahashchyk.

The main thing is to seem important, be with a suit and tie, produce tons of useless papers and empty initiatives, endlessly shine your face in the media and social networks and hold countless useless conferences, forums and congresses with the same embarrassed participants, shedding money that could go to real affairs.

How does this expensive protracted circus help Belarusians inside the country? How does it bring us closer to freedom? How does it help Belarusian refugees? Let's be honest: no way.

Where are the results of their voyages around the world? Where are the penalties for killing people in prisons? How is it possible, with the level of meetings that Tsikhanouskaia conducts, not to achieve tough measures against the regime that commits crimes against humanity?

I am sick of their pretentious and fake speeches, in which there is neither soul nor pain for people. I knew many opposition leaders and presidential candidates in Belarus, and most of them were people of democratic views who warmly communicated with Belarusians; lived modestly; risked themselves, went to protests; tried not to lead, but to unite society. Such were Henadz Karpenka, Viktar Hanchar, Yury Zakharenka, Stanislau Shushkevich, Viktar Ivashkevich, Andrei Sannikov, Yury Khadyka, Zianon Pazniak, Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Uladzimir Niakliaeu and others.

But those in motorcades and with guards – they do not look like freedom fighters.

It is obvious that the situation in Belarus is only getting worse, the number of political prisoners cannot be counted, thousands of people are tortured every day today.

People are dying in prisons, and the more time passes, the more prisoners of conscience can die.

The real leaders of New Belarus are in prison today. They are future presidents, ministers, mayors and members of parliament. They deserved it with their suffering, and no one today has the moral right to share any future positions among themselves.

Latushka, for example, in an interview with Radio Liberty has already announced that: "Western diplomats see him as the future president of Belarus". First, I want to tell him that Belarusians will choose the president of the country, not some Western diplomats. Secondly, I believe that people like Latushka may not pass lustration in the new democratic Belarus for serving the bloody regime for decades.

In my opinion, those in emigration need to focus on real work today: assistance and support for the families of political prisoners and refugees, information work and counter-propaganda, the development of the national identity of Belarusians, support for volunteers and veterans of the war in Ukraine, lobbying for serious and tangible sanctions against the Lukashenka regime for violating human rights. This is what we need and what we can do today if we want to really help our country.

I'm sure we have a chance for freedom. This war destroys two criminal regimes — Putin's and Lukashenka's. The main thing is not to lose faith and act.

Natallia Radzina, Editor-in-Chief of Charter97.org

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