Shushkevich: “I see Sannikov as the strongest candidate”

The former chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus sharply criticized certain opposition aspirants for presidency.

– Determination at elections should have been demonstrated earlier, – Stanislau Shushkevich told Euramost commenting on a decision of For Freedom movement leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich to run for presidency. – Alyaksandr Milinkevich has already showed his indecision. He also showed his, pardon, cowardice posed as common sense. Excuse my harsh words, but in my view, Milinkevich betrays the opposition. In fact, he legitimizes the power in Belarus, because the electoral legislation hasn’t been changed a lot, everything remains the same. In these conditions, being so compliant and obeying the power, he cannot run in the elections. Unfortunately, I used to consider Alyaksandr Milinkevich a decent person for many years, but my attitude towards his changed.

– What do you propose? Not to run in elections?

– I expected the Belarusian democratic society (including the For Freedom movement) to focus on one widely-known figure, a decisive and decent person. We have enough such candidates, but I’d prefer not to tell their names. I have visited Poland recently, where I learnt that Milinkevich continues to pose himself to Europe as the main leader of the Belarusian opposition. But why is this lie needed? I think, such actions help to solve some private problems and sacrifice my Belarus that I love so much. That’s all I can say…

– But Alyaksandr Milinkevich and his team have prepared a clear electoral programme, they have a plan and strategy…

– Well, I’ve seen this programme! Milinkevich contradicted it in his speech. The programme declares independence and neutrality, but he tells different things. I have an impression that nobody read this programme. I stress again, the programme is totally different from the speech.

- In his conversation with journalists Milinkevich expressed an opinion that there should be less pessimism.

- In such a case, why in 2006 he didn't act at least as Alyaksandr Kazulin? After all, once I was on the side of Milinkevich and believed that Kazulin was a traitor to some extent. It was my point of view. And it turned out that in comparison with Milinkevich Kazulin is simply a national hero. He made lots of unneeded deeds before that, but then he has improved his ways. After that I visited Europe with Kazulin many times, I saw is position...

- So, who is the most decent candidate at the moment to your mind?

- Out of those who want to run, I see Andrei Sannikov as the strongest candidate. He is an educated man, to my mind he is highly moral. I didn't understand him for a long time, I was against him categorically, but I do not see anyone better than him at te moment.

- And what for the young people? Vital Rymasheuski from the BCD, Ales Mikhalevich?..

- You know, if a person had never worked in his life, had not been earning money by a normal work, had not been a leader of at least a dozen or half a hundren people, it is laughable clownery to go and rule the country. One should not play such games in such a serious moment. I believe, God grant, for these people to win at least 1.5% of votes in case they would be nominated. They have no one to vote for them, as these people have done nothing serious in their life. The electorate will vote firstly for educated people, for those who know how to work.