Stanislau Shushkevich: Show We Do Not Respect the Power

We cannot contribute to Lukashenka's legitimization.

In his interview with Radio Svaboda Stanislau Shushkevich, first leader of independent Belarus, explains reasons why these "elections" should be ignored.

–Your attitude towards this election campaign is well-known. But I'd like to begin with your attitude.

- We will have no elections. Since 1996 we have not had the elections. If they do not exist, what should we participate in? We can only contribute to future Lukashenka's legitimization. All previous elections, except the first, in 1994, were not recognized by the civilized world. Only Russia and its satellites did it.

If you take part in them, you, in fact, recognize the elections. You play the game, given by Yarmoshyna, who'd better do something else. She is the root of unfair vote counting, it is not under control.

- You said that there were no elections. But you took part in the elections of 2001, 2006, 2010 and were a member of Sannikau team. What has changed? Does it make sense not to take part in now?

- There was a piece of hope and an ability to work with population. Now there is no hope, all those worked with population were either beaten or driven out of the country. I see no candidates to work for now. Therefore, our party neither nominated nor supported anyone. After December 19 I met with those beaten. So, should the story repeat itself? There is a need to say that we do not respect the power and do not participate in the elections.

They are worried and have legally prohibited a boycott. They forget international agreements giving the right to boycott. It is easy to support a new political regime - you should ignore the elections.

- What can be a possible scenario for foreign policy after October 11?

-Foreign countries are much worried than the opposition. It is naive. When I talk with Italian and Greek politicians, they have no idea of what is going on here. They say: "Why don't you address to the Constitutional Court?" They do not know that our citizen cannot address to the Constitutional Court, our legislation is an absurd.

- I mean a current trend - the West's steps towards Lukashenka.

- My congratulations, he succeeds in fooling European politicians. Political prisoners have been released, but it was about the release and rehabilitation. They say "yes, the situation is bad here, but not as bad as in Azerbaijan". I was there. The situation here is even worse!

- Journalists are imprisoned there.

- Here they are either imprisoned or driven out of Belarus. You work in a self-censorship mode. This is the only right way.

-How changes can come to Belarus? What should be the next step, if the elections decide nothing?

- There are two classic variants - a revolt or palace coup d'etat. The second variant is impossible because of careful supervision of special services. I experienced such a moment. If someone told me two hours prior to the signing of the Belavezha Accords that I would sign the agreement on discontinuation of the Soviet Union, I would not believe in it and burst into anger. And here a Soviet philosopher says the words cannot but putting name to...

- Burbulis?

- Yes, it was Gennady Eduardovich Burbulis. You know, every year I make him my apologies for considering him a Marxist. He turned to be a good philosopher. And we will find the man, who finds the way.