The Last Dictator (Video)

“The Last Dictator of Europe” film was presented in London.

The film shows an opinion about Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his opponents. The first night in London was presented by “Free Belarus Now” initiative and “Guerilla Pictures” company.

As charter97.org website was informed by the leader of the initiative “Free Belarus Now” Iryna Bahdanava, a sister of Andrei Sannikov, a presidential candidate in Belarus sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment, the house was full on the opening night. The interest to Belarus was tremendous.

A former UK’s Ambassador to Belarus Brian Bennett, the author of the book “The Last Dictatorship of Europe: Belarus under Lukashenka”, and Julian Assange, a founder of WikiLeaks website, have taken part in the presentation of the film.

A well-known British actress Joanna Lumley provided a voice for the film. As said by her, she knew nothing about the despotic Belarus before she was invited to participate in the picket with a demand to release Andrei Sannikov.

- When I learnt about the cruel and inhuman treatment of dissenters, which is happening so near from the Great Britain, in the country bordering on the EU, I understood that I should do everything possible to throw limelight on murders and tortures which are continuing up till now.

At the presentation Julian Assange told that he helped to make the film “The Last Dictator of Europe”, as in 2009 I personally got acquainted with the leader of “Viasna” human rights centre Ales Byalyatski, who is now in prison. That is why, as Assange said, he “knows the subject of Belarus” now.

One of the authors of the film, a British Matthew Charles visited Belarus to shoot the film, however the majority of the work was done secretly. At the border when he was on his way home, Matthew learnt that it was no secret for the Belarusian security agencies. There was a conversation with him for two hours, and he was offered “to part with” the video footage, however, it had been sent abroad opportunely.

Matthew had a chance to meet and converse with many prisoners of the SQaure, and even visit Lukashenka’s native place, Alexandria.

The film offers not only its own presentation of the well-known Belarusian situation, but less publicized issues, like a look into the roots of a human “abnormality” of the Belarusian dictator.

The main story line is narrated by a sister of Andrei Sannikov, Iryna Bahdanava (Irina Bogdanova).

- I feel like it is not my brother who is in prison, but myself, - Iryna Bahdanava said. She had been working in the Great Britain as a physician since a long time.

Her message about the last dictator is uncompromising:

- He must have been stopped many years ago. But if we do not stop him now, it will affect each of you.

Iryna Bahdanava asked to dedicate the first screening of the film to Syarhei Kavalenka, a Belarusian political prisoner, who continues a hunger strike in prison.

“I saw this film yesterday for the first time. Emotionally it was very difficult for me to meet with Andrei’s arrest again. However, the general impression is that the support of the international community to Belarus has grown immensely over the last year, which empowers me to continue the struggle. People are learning more and more, they are totally shocked and are ready to help by any methods. It is a message to Belarusians, that they are not alone. The world is trying to help the victory of democracy in Belarus,” Bahdanava believes.

Zara Coombes, “Free Belarus Now” campaign manager, in an interview to radio Svaboda said that negotiations on distribution of the film are underway. It is planned to release it on DVD. Coombes has also said that screening of the film is planned in Belarus as well, but for obvious reasons has not revealed the details.