Andrzej Pachobut: Lukashenka is not just madman

The famous Belarusian journalist presented his book “System Belarus” in Warsaw.

The presentation of the Gazeta Wyborcza’s reporter and charter97.org’s regular contributor Andrzej Pachobut took place in the Palace of Culture of the Reportage Institute. The presentation was hosted by a famous Polish journalist, the author of the “Studio East” program in Polish television Maria Przelomiec. The book was published in Polish by Helion publishing house.

When introducing Andrzej Pachobut Maria Przelomiec noted that whole Poland worried about the arrest and then punishment of the journalist with two years in prison with a postponement, and it was a joy for everyone to see him that day in Warsaw.

The journalist spoke about his book “System Belarus”. According to him, these were the constant questions asked by Europeans on how a person like Lukashenka could come to power and hold on it for 20 years that made him write the book. Pachobut’s answer to all these questions is the following: “Dictator Lukashenka is a cynical, unscrupulous and unprincipled manipulator. Exactly due to these his qualities he came to power and keeps holding on it still”.

According to Pachobut, power is the goal in itself for Lukashenka, and he hold onto it by all the possible means: by the means of the repressive machine, 100 000 policemen, riot policemen, death squads. The journalist is convinced that with Lukashenka there will never be free elections. He deals shortly with his strongest opponents in the cruelest way. “The example of how Lukashenka deals with his opponents – is a presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov. This politician went through hell, the authorities had the goal of destroying him”, - Andrzej Pachobut said.

When the host of the evening Maria Przelomiec asked Pachobut: “Is it possible that Lukashenka is just a madman?”, the journalist responded: “No, he is not just a madman. He is cunning and dodgy manipulator. Just a madman would not have been able to hold on to power for so long”.

According to Pachobut, Lukashenka skillfully plays with the mentality of the Belarusian people: “Unfortunately, Belarusians are constantly waiting for someone to save them instead of saving themselves. The people do not believe in themselves and keep asking: “What can I do?” At the same time Lukashenka’s rankings are extremely low, Belarusians have gone tired of him and want the authorities to change, the journalist is convinced.

Nevertheless, Lukashenka will not be able to hold on to power forever – the economy will deal him the final blow. “It is impossible to constantly live on drugs in the form of cheap Russian oil. One must not endlessly hold on to power with the help of riot police and death squads. The example of the Arab Spring shows that strongest dictatorships can fall like houses of cards”, - the journalist said.