Author Of Petition Against IMF Loan For Lukashenka: Our Voice Was Heard

The regime should not receive any financial assistance whilst the dictator remains in power.

A petition to the International Monetary Fund, published at change.org, signed by several thousand people, was today transferred to the IMF. Dzianis Kazakevich told the Charter97.org about his initiative:

- You are the author of the petition to the IMF. The petition urges not to finance Lukashenka’s regime. Tell us about the key demands of this document.

- The petition consists of two basic requirements. The first is the termination of negotiations, including consultations, with the government of Belarus, until all those detained during peaceful protest actions are released. The main part of the petition letter is connected with another requirement - not to provide any financial assistance to Belarus whilst Lukashenka remains in power.

- You passed the petition to the IMF today. Tell us whom you met, and what the attitude of the Fund’s representatives towards your initiative was.

- I met with a very interesting person, Director of the European Office of the IMF Jeffrey Franks. He is a graduate of Priston, and Harvard, and Oxford University at the same time. Jeffrey Franks has been working in the IMF structures for 24 years and now holds such an important post. The procedure for the transfer was short. But our voice has been heard and I think this is a small victory.

- You have not lived in Belarus for a long time, never been engaged in public and political activities. What made you act now?

- I’ve had enough of him. Basta! I think I am not alone in this. Although I don’t live at the territory of Belarus, I monitor the news and I am outraged about the lawlessness which is happening in the country.

Let's return to the events of this spring. It was outrageous when during the protests, Minsk citizens were grabbed and thrown into buses by people in plain clothes. Terror was spreading in the streets of a peaceful city. I was struck by the streams of Zmitser Dashkevich, the defense of Kurapaty, was impressed by how Siarhei Palcheuski chained himself to the MAZ truck. On the one hand was the heroism of the Belarusians, on the other - the insolent cynicism of the regime and an attempt to intimidate people.

In the midst of the protests, on March 16, chief of the IMF mission in Belarus Peter Dolman personally met with Lukashenka. The meeting took place during the time when detentions were happening throughout Belarus. This prompted me to write a petition. The primary requirement was to stop negotiations with the regime, while the defendants in the "patriots' case" are held behind the bars (unfortunately, it is still relevant, as they are behind the bars). Hundreds of people began to sign the petition and leave comments, economists joined, who helped to modify this petition and create a special petition letter. It already contained clear reasons why it is impossible to give money to Lukashenka's regime.