Andrei Sannikov: Every Lukashenka's referendum turns out to be tragedy

The dictator uses referendums to strengthen his already uncontrollable power.

Andrei Sannikov, a former political prisoner, candidate in the 2010 presidential election and leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, talked to charter97.org about Aliasandr Lukashenka's plans to hold a referendum in Belarus.

“Lukashenka uses referendums mainly to strengthen his already uncontrollable power. A reform of the judicial system, which supposes even stronger dependence of courts on the dictatorship, won't be the main question at a possible referendum. Every Lukashenka's referendum turns out to be a tragedy for Belarus. Lukashenka is likely to try to get more power, for example, in the economic area or, perhaps, he will legitimate corporate raids on private companies. Anyway, its aim is to continue robbing people. Besides, the referendum may propose to vote on the questions posing a threat to the independence of Belarus. The economic bankruptcy of the Lukashenka regime is so obvious and his reluctance to carry out reforms is so strong that he can stake the state's independence to get financial aid from the Kremlin for his regime,” Sannikov said.

Lukashenka doesn't lose time, according to the politician.

“He thinks it's time to have a referendum today, because the most brutal in the Belarusian history crackdown on the opposition and the civil society has almost eliminated the opposition. The European Union sends more and more signals about changing its principled position and the start of cooperation with the dictatorship. Most opposition members already announced their readiness to take part in the local election in one form or another, which is a step toward the legitimisation of the dictatorship and an absolutely unacceptable move when political prisoners are still in jail.

Lukashenka apparently decided he could continue tightening screws. It will be the purpose of the possible referendum. It can be opposed only by a consistent and principled position of both the civil society and the political opposition that should look for ways to change the authorities in Belarus rather than cooperate with the dictatorship,” the leader of the European Belarus campaign is confident.