Nyaklyaeu: Title of pro-Russian politician stuck to me (Video)

Poet Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu told in an interview to Echo of Moscow radio he would run in the presidential elections.

According to the leader of Tell the Truth campaign “this will happen when the date for the presidential elections is announced.” The politician said he still stood for the idea of proposing a single candidate representing all democratic forces:

“I am the person who tries to take part in all procedures on proposing a singe candidate. I am interested in this. It’s going to be a very difficult situation with the elections, so we need a single candidate to unite the opposition. The society also needs him as a person able to take decisions in this difficult situation. Do you understand? We cannot have two or three generals in the field. In my view, this is the main goal to solve the question with a single candidate. I think it will be settled.”

Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu said why he was considered to be a pro-Russian politician:

“When I started my activity, Lukashenka regarded me almost as a nationalist. There was even an attempt to turn me into a Russophobe, though my father is Russian. Today, Lukashenka is in a position where the Belarusian Popular Front used to be, the forces he struggled against in his desire to enter the Russian policy with his interests. It turns out now that he defends national interests. Even Zyanon Paznyak, the main critic of Lukashenka in those times, says Lukashenka is better than pro-Russian Nyaklyaeu. A title of a pro-Russian politician has stuck to me.

I do not oppose in the sense of my attitude towards Russia. Belarus cannot solve issues without cooperation with Russia, especially in economic sphere. The statements that if, for example, Milinkevich comes to power tomorrow and Belarus will join the European Union is the same populism as statements that Lukashenka’s way, almost joining Russia, is good. One will feel good in one’s own house only if people themselves bring everything to order.”

According to the poet, Lukashenka wants to remain in power to give it to his son Viktar in the next elections in the same way “he gave him law-enforcement bodies”:

“Well, these agencies controlled by an analytical body deal with Tell the Truth campaign and everyone who opposes Lukashenka.”

Nyaklayeu thinks people saying about impossibility to win Lukashenka are wrong:

“It is a big mistake to think that Nyaklyaeu or another candidate cannot gain a victory over the today’s authorities, to think that Lukashenka will win anyway. It is possible that the regime of Lukashenka can fall down in the current political situation in the world and in the country. I am convinced. Social polls say Lukashenka’s rating is 80%, but our surveys show his rating is only 33%. These are objective polls, because his rating is really goes down. The strained relations with Russia play not a small part in this process.”

If Lukashenka receives his 80% again, “we will have the square and hope people will come to it” the poet says.