Yury Khashchavatski: Everything Could Change Unexpectedly

The situation for Belarusians is better than it may seem.

2017, of course, will leave a significant mark in the Belarusian history, despite the fact that by December, it may seem, there was no drastic change. Nevertheless, for the Belarusians everything is much better than it might seem. Famous Belarusian film director Yury Khashchavatski expressed such opinion in an interview with the Charter97.org.

- What will you remember this year by? What is its peculiarity for Belarus?

- At first glance, it may seem that this was a year of total slip: judging by the results of the year, nothing seems to have changed. One can even say that only those stupid things that the authorities have been doing for a very long time have become tougher. Someone might even think that there was a gradual slide into the swamp.

However, it’s not so simple. There are new faces and new people who are fighting for the better Belarus, wake up the society and call everyone to follow them.

On the other hand, it became noticeable that Lukashenka's regime was gradually weakening, almost all his support had almost disappeared, like snow under the sun. This was well demonstrated by spring protests, which were attended by absolutely ordinary people, the former electorate of the ruler.

Lukashenka’s especially set up the people against himself, when in the midst of the economic crisis, when people were getting poorer and poorer, he built a hospital for himself and his associates for 100 million euros. For change, you need only one single impulse that would unite people.

- What would inspire Belarusians in such situation? Motivate them to struggle for changes for the better?

- The other day I watched the performance of a Belarusian girl who won the Ukrainian show "Golos" on your website.

How wonderful she sang! Here it is, a symbol: a little girl, talented beyond measure. The power of talent. This is the best I've seen this year.

I always recall her performance, because it can be a source of inspiration for Belarusians. Let everyone watch this video again - not just to raise the mood.

Also for the sake of simple, but strong symbolism: we must discard discouragement and fight for the wonderful and talented Belarusian children to live in a worthy state.

They deserve that we, having discarded personal scores and uncertainties, try to provide them with a better life than ours. That every little Belarusian has a chance to start in life and could realize their opportunities.

This performance of a young Belarusian at the show “Golos” could become a therapy for our entire society. It would be great if Belarusians, having watched this video, were inspired and at that very moment realized: a one-time, joint effort is needed to put everything in order.

Such a bright, young and talented Belarus should be before our eyes, not the horrors and lawlessness that are taking place in Pechy, in every court, in police stations, in any store. And we are simply obliged by a common effort to change our reality - for the sake of hundreds of thousands of such talented Belarusian children.

In fact, everything is not as bad as some people think. Maybe not as good as we would like right now, but they all turn out to be the best for us.

- There’s a saying that the darker the night, the sooner the dawn. How soon will the “dawn” come to Belarus?

- 2017 just showed that changes can occur at any time and completely unexpectedly.

Take, for example, Zimbabwe. Of course, the authorities are very controversial now. But, nevertheless, a bloodless change of power has occurred.

No matter how dark the night was, I am sure that everything will change in Belarus. The dawn will come.

And this time I want this to happen not by chance, as in 1991, but by the will of society and Belarusian citizens. For this it is necessary, on the one hand, just to remember the feeling of one's own dignity, and, on the other hand, about our responsibility before our children.

- What would you like to wish Belarusians in the year 2018?

- I'll start with the standard wishes: health, happiness, love for those who do not have it. To everyone - exactly what they need. Exactly the things that are needed.

I also want to wish that you realize that happiness, as well as love, luck and everything else, do not come just like that. It is necessary to struggle for them. And for the struggle we need strength.

Therefore, my main wish will be: more strength for our society and people in order to change ourselves and our future. And that the changes occurred as early as possible - maybe even next year.