Mikalai Charnavus: I’ll Sleep Out, But I'll Get To March In Minsk On May 1

All the Baranavichy youth share the protest sentiment.

Baranavichy activist and entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus has told Charter97.org about this.

– Baranavichy has particularly broken out this spring, people actively participated in the marches of angry Belarusians, do you feel pride for your fellow countrymen?

– They are great! Young people pulled themselves together, they used to be not so active, mostly old people came out, and now the youth have taken to the streets. The police are constantly asking: "Where do these young people come from?" And I do not know, they have just pulled themselves together. They were defending me when I was taken into a passenger car from the court, they were walking along like the wall: "Please, Mikalai, run!" But I did not want to get into trouble. And the youth was defending me with might and main! I was surprised myself, because nobody agitated them. And there they were!

– The Belarusians showed that they defeated their fear mentally, but the authorities are trying to bring down the degree of protest in every possible way, is it necessary to continue the struggle?

– We must continue to fight! People can’t live their life, how can you live for those 200 rubles? This is a torture! These thieves occupy the offices! Lukashenka has said: "Pick them out like raisins." So, the officials must be picked out! We need to recruit new ones and work with them. If the new ones come – we will live at least a little bit better.

– Mikalai Statkevich suggests holding a popular protest rally in Minsk on May 1, how do you feel about this idea?

– I vote for that with two hands! Let the people join it! I agree and will go to Minsk. I will sleep out, but I'll manage to get there. I want to tell young people, tell everyone – we must go and support it! If we come out – there will be raisins, if we don’t – we will be picked out!