Stanislau Shushkevich: Real leaders are in prison or abroad

The Belarusian dictator has nothing left, but to retain the power by force.

Stanislau Shushkevich, the first leader of independent Belarus, ex-Chairman of the Supreme Soviet, shared his opinion with charter97.org.

- Some media have already called protests in Yerevan «Electro-Maidan". Ukrainian expert Taras Chornovil assumes that events in Armenia may take the Ukrainian scenario. Do you think such comparisons are kept to bed-rock?

- Recently, I've been close to Armenia, in Baku, to be specific. And it seems to me, Armenia has no other way out, but energy price increase, otherwise, they will go into bankruptcy. They found neither understanding nor way to explain it. Could this lead to a new post-Soviet Maidan? It is possible. The opposition in Armenia needed a certain reason. And if I, for example, does not consider it a valid argument (may be because of lack of information), it could turn into the Maidan, as there are violent protest moods. And the formal reason for protests will be not so important. Any other event could cause discontent. And it is really mass and active and can turn into a real Maidan.

- Human rights activists say that the events in Kyiv, on the one hand, so rattled the authoritarian regimes and, on the other hand, were an example of lethal weapons use against peaceful demonstrators that now any autocracy will now retain its power without sorting out methods. Do events in Armenia prove it?

- Yes. I do not want to be judgemental, but it seems like they really have forgotten what the government, the Parliament and the President need for. They just retain their power by all means and forget that they should serve the country and people. To some extent, this power is kleptocratic. Remembering that I have recently witnessed in Baku, I want to point out: there is one common point, despite the fact that the Azerbaijan and the Armenian regimes significantly differ (if only because Azerbaijan is rich in resources). The way the power is retained.

- Do you think the Belarusian regime draws on experience of Yerevan events?

- It has already used everything. Just remember the elections in 2010: we have not experienced the most violent events. The Belarusian regime suppressed the society. Everyone who could act under rules of opposition struggle was imprisoned. Even at the time the regime showed its true face. In case of such protests, they will be violently suppressed. The Belarusian regime has nothing left, but to retain the power by force.

- What lesson could the civil society of Belarus learn from Armenian "Electro-Maidan"?

I am afraid that it is difficult to expect any solutions from civic leaders in Belarus. There is a big problem in opposition now: not everyone proves his leader ambitions with his leadership skills... Real leaders were beaten up, imprisoned or forced to leave Belarus. There are a lot of leaders who are able to philosophize, but there are few who are able to fight the regime.