Lessons to Win Required, Siarhei Strybulski Says

Belarusians should remember their heroes.

Military exercises West-2017 may be a part of a hybrid war against Belarus. Peaceful protests are one of the means of protecting the country.

Former political prisoner, one of defendants in the Patriot case Siarhei Strybulski stated in the interview to the website of the Belarusian National Congress on the eve of the Day of Belarusian Military Glory.

- What does September 8 personally mean to you?

- As is known from the Belarusian history, on this day, 8 September 1514, the 30 000-strong army of the GDL battered the three-fold larger army of Muscovia. That battle was not just a victory, but it decided the fate of our country's independence then. That's why the Belarusians should remember such remarkable historical dates and their heroes. Let the thing I say sound a little pathetic, but in my opinion, the celebration of September 8 is the manifestation of independence of our modern country.

It's a shame that this event is not celebrated at the state level, as it was at the beginning of the nineties. It's a pity that the authorities do not understand that it is possible to cultivate love for our country and culture in one way: to breed pride for the people and actions in the history. It's a pity that today the work on education of young people focuses only on victory in World War II. If the power understands this ... well, the question arises: is this the Belarusian power?

- In 1514 our ancestors were able to defend the country. Is there any threat to the independence of Belarus now?

- The threat to the independence of Belarus, as well as for many countries that once were the part of the Soviet Union will remain as long as there the Russian Federation exists next to us. At least with its current leadership. Ukraine already knows the price of agreements with this "good neighbor". Therefore, it is clear that the so-called "union" will not be an obstacle to implement the same hybrid scenario of the war in our territory that was held in the Crimea and the Donbass. Moreover, many analysts and experts already believe that this hybrid scenario is already underway. Separatist sentiments among the military (it's no secret that many of them support Putin's policy) and the West-2017 exercise prove this. And in general, just take a look at the map. Compare the territory of Belarus and Russia.

"Union", really?! Our country will be swallowed. Unions must be equal

- If there is a threat, then what should a patriot of Belarus do to respond to it? How to defend independence in case of aggression?

- One needs to know that the response to a form of separatism must be tough. We must learn to win and take the grain of a good idea even from the enemy. I am convinced that official structures can fail to protect independence and sovereignty. Let us take the example of Ukraine, since the situation was roughly the same before the war. Preventive anti-occupation actions of a different nature - from the actualization of this problem in the media and peaceful protests to the creation of analytical and intelligence structures that would collect data on possible threats to independence and sovereignty - must be carried out. Naturally, there should also be security structures that would protect against a possible aggressor in peacetime and protect the country in case of a real aggression. It is necessary to prepare for "guerrilla warfare", for example, territorial defense forces are being created for in neighboring countries.

I am convinced that in case of open aggression it will completely be the problem of the society. But I must say that now I am under investigation under Article 287 (Participation in an illegal armed group) and open calls for some kind of actions may turn into imprisonment.