Vintsuk Vyachorka: Imitation variant won't work  in Belarus any more

There's no sense in expecting the pseudo-election to the body that solve nothing to turn into ideal will expression.

Vintsuk Vyachorka, a civil activist and member of the organizing committee to create the Belarusian Movement party, gave in interview to charter97.org.

If people feel administrative pressure during the election campaign, what should they do?

If we face attempts to make people vote, we should remember the more people refuse to obey illegal demands (forcing to vote is an illegal demand), the more difficult for administration of universities, government bodies and workers' housing facilities will be to start repression against them. Firstly, it would be better to talk to your colleagues  co-workers and neighbours and do not be alone. You will find a great number of people who think the same. Secondly, you have an opportunity to take a sick leave, to leave for personal reasons and so on. Be creative. I think the people with experience of the Soviet adaptation school can work out creative approaches. The main thing is to believe that it's not you who will be ashamed. It is this those giving you such orders who will feel awkward. It happens often that a person giving orders must fulfill foolish orders from his bosses.  

Why did you decide to boycott the “election”?

I have participated in all election campaigns held in Belarus since 1989. I can compare. I must admit that the essence of the regime did not change significantly in December 2010, but there were clear changes in all vectors of its evolution. The decline, decay, degradation, the wild senseless crackdown the following year and heavy-handed domestic policy show that an imitation variant will not work in Belarus any more. I mean the imitation variant similar to Putin's rule in Russia, where some opposition members were given parliament seats, and Azerbaijan. This variant is impossible here. If it is impossible, there is no sense in expecting the pseudo-election to the body that solves nothing to turn into ideal will expression.

What are the results of the boycott?

In general, I wouldn't overrate the significance of the September event. Wise people already know the so called members of parliament do not decide anything. If one is in trouble, he doesn't go to an MP. He even does not know his name. He believes in 'power vertical'. The 'vertical' is the only branch of government in Belarus. We don't have judicial and law-making branches, only the 'vertical'. The irony of it is that it is called the executive branch. So people are indifferent to the 'house of representatives', which solves nothing, and a formal procedure of its formation. It is only a technical stage before inevitable vital events. It is a belated but inevitable public reaction to the economic crisis resulting from internal causes. It is concentration of hopes of people for the future presidential election, because power is concentrated only in the hands of the president.