Viktar Ivashkevich: «Enough seating in trenches. We must break through»

Viktar Ivashkevich deputy heads of the BPF Party (Belarusian Popular Front) declared his intention to run for party head. “In today’s conditions, when the situation in the country is getting sharper we must deny the positional warfare, seating in trenches and break through. In this situation the BPF has no right to confuse. The front must become the engine of the democratic movement in Belarus. We must go out for the broad movement and become its main body”, - the politician declared on the press conference in Minsk.

By this broad movement Viktar Ivashkevich sees the European March that has already started. “Naturally, the real life differs from some schemes, and in our conditions always in worse side. The holding of the European March gave rise to criticism, but I think we should act. This action was successful as it took place, it has led to certain results. In this situation we must go out to the broad movement, and the Front should be ahead, take a role of a commander who hoists a flag and lead the others”, - Ivashkevich thinks.

Viktar Ivashkevich addressed the mass media with the appeal to start the discussion in the press about the today’s role of the VPF Party. “I want the journalist to call the candidatures for the post of the party head for broad debate and I will take part in it with pleasure. Because, in my opinion, the destiny of the Belarusian Front is not indifferent to the people, to its active part at least”, - Ivashkevich says.

Viktar Ivashkevich is for the cooperation of the BPF Party with the movement “For Freedom”. “What concerns the movement “For Freedom”, I am for the cooperation, and it exists. The European March has demonstrated it. We hope to work together in future, too. What about leadership, I think a leader is not a man who takes the responsibility, but one who assumes the criticism for this or that decision as well. The society should support a leader. One should prove his or her leadership by working every day”, - the politician said.

The intention of Viktar Ivashkevich to run for the BPF Party head the regions supported. “I support Ivashkevich’s intention to run for the BPF Party ruler, because firstly, his activity program, presented to public on the last Soim (session) satisfies the vision of the today’s situation and the perspective. Of course, it is my personal opinion, but the attempts to present the conflict as the conflict of the generations doesn’t work here, because, for example there are many young people among the Vitebsk BPF members who are ready to support Viktar Ivashkevich. For example, if we take the European March that was held with shortcomings, but on a good organizational level, and it proved that the peaceful actions of protest in Belarus can be nonviolent, I see here the achievement of Viktar Ivashkevich. I also think that with Ivashkevich’s election for the post of the party head, there will be place for the activity of al the members and I hope the regional structures will activate”,-noted Kastus Smolikau, head of the BPF Party Vitebsk Area organization.

Yury Khadyka, the second deputy head of the BPF Party also supports Viktar Ivashkevich.

“I supported his candidature, because Viktar Ivashkevich was among the founders of the party in those good times when the BPF was a real public movement, and I hope with his help we will be able to get back that time. During his 20 years of struggle against authoritarianism Viktar has demonstrated serious leader and organizing skills, and finally because he was one of the initiators of the historical 7 Congress of the United Democratic Forces on the beginning of the dialog in Belarusian society, and I think it is the very important moment. It was the first time for many years when the militia put their clubs in slip-overs, and it caused the conditions that people weren’t afraid to take to streets in protest. And finally the serious inner reforms are needed for Belarus to come to Europe. And here the ability of Ivashkevich not only to go under the militia clubs but think and win tactically, carry out negotiations and bargain is very important. Because the idea of the dialog in the society is not strained one, but of vital concernment, the idea that should be realized. But the main thing for the Front today is unity, unity is the highest value”, - the politician remarked.