Viktar Ivashkevich: “Lukashenka’s message to Europe – I was a dictator and I’ll be a dictator”

One of the organizers of the Chernobyl Way rally believes the authorities have given a signal to Europe – there will be no liberalization in Belarus.

As Viktar Ivashkevich, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front party, told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center, the results of the Chernobyl Way rally showed “the authorities are afraid that people won’t be afraid. The sense is not that some thousands of people could go to the city center but to hinder them to do this, in others the others not to see it is possible. The authorities are using their best card – intimidation.”

“The Belarusian authorities have demonstrated there won’t be ay liberalization regardless of negotiations in the West. Lukashenka clearly said in his recent address to the nation and the “parliament”: Europe hopes in vain I will turn to liberalization. He was pressing and will be pressing. If Europe swallowed this, Lukashenka is not going to change anything. He dictated conditions for Europe: I do what I want, the regime will be dictatorial, and you will give me money,” Ivashkevich told.

“Lukashenka has demonstrated he was and will be a dictator, and nobody will be able to order him. This is his consistent line, while Europe’s line is inconsistent. They should decide if they are for dictatorship or for democracy in Belarus,” the BPF deputy head said.