The Military Can Come for the "Money-Bag" in Drazdy

But it is better if there is a peaceful change of power in the country.

The removal from power of the ruler of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe was one of the main international events of the past week. The military of the African country called its operation "a bloodless correction."

What conclusions can be made after the fall of the dictatorship in Zimbabwe? Are there any parallels between the events in the country and things happening in Belarus?

Well-known Belarusian film director Yury Khashchevatski answers questions of Charter97.org.

- The military removed Mugabe from power, the oldest dictator in the world. Is there a sign in the overthrow of a dictator-long-liver for Belarus?

- Yes, it is. Let's analyze: the military displaced the dictator. As far as I know, in today's Zimbabwe China plays a great political and economic role. And those who removed the ugly dictator Mugabe went to China on the eve of the "bloodless correction". And judging by how all this was going on, they received a complete support of China.

As a result, the dictator who ruled the country for 37 years was overthrown in a few hours. Why? Because this man ran the country relied on the strength of the same military, and not on popular recognition and laws.

In this sense, I see a few interesting moments. First, the times of dictatorships somehow start to fade away. Because any dictatorship has one main feature: it needs poor, beggarly people under its yoke. This is how dictatorships try to retain their power. As a result, they cannot really count on people's support and become hostages to their policies.

The second conclusion is also being drawn and directly relates to the situation in Belarus. The fact is that there is also a neighboring country the Belarusian military can ask for a piece of advice before removing our dictator. And we know this country very well and it can "accept" the removal. And no one in Belarus will not defend a man who sucks the population dry to build himself other residence or to relax in the UAE, to fly in his luxurious "Boeing", and at the same time yell about the "money-bags" who receive two thousand rubles a month in banks.

But in fact, Belarus, as well as Zimbabwe, has one "money-bag" who has also appointed himself a dictator. This "money-bag" from Drazdy now relies only on law enforcement structures, and we all see how these structures remove the dictator if it's necessary. Now such a scenario is very common and so it can actually happen.

As for the Belarusian people, it is clear that no one will support the current government if something of this kind occurs. And those idiotic concoctions that "Lukashenka is the guarantor of sovereignty" are a deception that can cost much for those who believe in it. The only right conclusion we can make for the citizens of Belarus today is that we must be responsible for the fate of our country. To start a fight for ourselves and for our country; this is what our times require. And do not wait for the liberation from the dictatorship to follow the scenario of Zimbabwe.

- Lukashenka has always been concerned about the fate of authoritarian rulers. Once he invited the overthrown Kurmanbek Bakiyev to Minsk. Do you think Lukashenka is very scared?

- He's been scared a long time! It's been lasting from the very first days of being in power. He is very afraid of losing power, and over time, seeing how his friends and colleagues lose it, he draws conclusions for himself.

Only his conclusions are one-sided: to enlarge the power structures and extend their powers. Their support takes a great part of the budget pie. "Siloviki" and special services cost now even more than education and medicine taken together.

But in reality all this does not make any sense. To strengthen the power, it is necessary to do something completely different: one must take care of people for them to love and respect your power, and not be afraid of it.

Only the power that has the support of people will survive. And Lukashenka hates our people, and we know it. Therefore, any dictator's endeavours now does not lead to anything, whatever he does; it only gets worse.

It is clear that Lukashenka is really scared. He sees the fate of Gaddafi, Ceausescu, Mugabe and other dictators. I would not like to be in his place.

- In the spring of 2001, after the arrest of Milosevic, the Belarusians took the streets with the slogan "Slobodan is done - Sasha be ready" stressing that protest actions would lead to changes in Belarus. What should be done to ensure to make the fate of our country depend on the people and not on instructions received from neighbors?

- We have power and opportunities to do this, believe me. People just have to learn to support each other. Solidarity should become a part of everyday culture of Belarusians.

Just take a look: there were tremendous protest actions of entrepreneurs, marches of students in the center of Minsk, spontaneous riots are increasingly occurring at enterprises. But one thing is missing - overall support of every event. To learn to be together when facing challenges.

I can see that young people focus not on official propaganda, but standards of the free world. Young people have other understanding of mutual assistance and solidarity, and act differently. We do have hope for changes.

But it is not the situation when a wizard comes and gives us a magic key to open a secret door to a glittering future. Such a key does not exist. Everyone should start changing themselves and learning how to be unanimous, learning to support each other and fighting for themselves and the country together.