Are You Sure You Want To Play Role Of Backup Dancers?

Then come out and prove you are the nation.

Mikalai Statkevich spoke in the Hot Commentary (the video is available here). He said the following on air to Belsat TV:

- Can we say that the detentions prior to the Freedom Day mean the end of "liberalization" and "Belarusization"? As the election in Russia is over, and now Kremlin will deal with Lukashenka, with his games with the West, and with everything Belarusian in general?

- The fact is, I noticed no "liberalization" and "Belarusization". If we recall what methods were used against protesters and activists, then I would say that I can't remember such brutal methods in 24 years of Lukashenka's rule.

And what do you mean when you say "Belarusization"? That we have increased the number of students who are educated in the Belarusian language? Or maybe we have a popular Belarusian-language channel? Or Lukashenka stopped trembling and made a speech in Belarusian? Or probably they no longer put people in jail for speaking Belarusian? Yes, we are allowed to learn the language in some small groups . As the saying goes, "the fool is happy", or how to understand this?

The country is still russified. According to the latest survey, 56% of Belarusians believe that the Belarusian language on television is unacceptable.

It is not "Belarusization", but a bone, thrown to the patriots, so that they do not show excessive activity and leave Lukashenka at peace.

- However, the banner on the Freedom Day celebration appeared on the big screen near the main shopping center of Minsk. The invitation to the concert near the Opera Theatre is placed there. However, can there be a proper holiday when there are people jailed in the Akrestsin Street detention center?

- I have never opposed the rally to the concert. It was our joint general plan, the authorities divided it, as well as they did with the opposition - or, rather, it wasn't them who separated the opposition, the opposition has long been inseparable, and this is the Belarusian National Congress. Everything else is an imitation of the opposition. So the authorities just, so to speak, identified the ghetto in which we can celebrate. As an extra, as young people now tend to say, "lure", they allowed that billboard on the display, after all the arrests, and something else.

The main message is, come only to dance inside the fence, leave all the protest slogans aside, listen to the speeches allowed, listen to the music, have fun. Do not meddle in the power, do not touch the power - that's the main message. I do not blame them, on the contrary, was very supportive of the concert organizers, they have done their work properly and continue doing it, but I am appealing to those who call themselves political opposition: you just have to fight for the freedom of the country.

We are the only country in Europe, where there are no elections; the only country where nobody counts votes, where everything national is destroyed, has just been almost completely destroyed. We are the only country with such a "Leader". And they are offering us just a concert, a banner so that we put up with everything and do not touch this power. Because even greater evil personified by Putin will come. People hate Lukashenka, and there's only Putin in their heads. So let it will be us in those heads. Let's do something for these people.

And the first thing we will do for them is not only to celebrate and dance a year after the suppression of the popular uprising. Let's speak about what happened in the place suitable for this - in the Yakub Kolas Square, at 12.00 on March 25. Let's speak about the problems of the people, give the people's representatives an opportunity to speak up, let's say that we are with the people and we did not go to play the role of backup dancers. And then let's go celebrate. I hope that the detention of the organizers, which was aimed at decreasing the number of participants, will not disrupt the rally. I urge everyone who considers themselves patriots to come to the Yakub Kolas Square at 12.00 on March 25.

In fact Lukashenka changed the situation. This is not some kind of controversy between the supporters of only concert and the supporters of the concert and the rally. This is a moral choice. This is the moment of truth, as I said. Choose who you are. Are you ready for the role of backup dancers? Then do not touch anything, just dance where you were told, and listen to the permitted speeches. This will be a long-lasting trend. Or, after the arrest of such a great and unique person as Uladzimir Niakliaeu, who has not yet recovered after last year's arrest on March 24 when he was detained by the riot police in Brest, who is undergoing the most difficult course of treatment, and now it is interrupted, and God helps him to be released alive. At least for the sake of this, come out and show that you are a nation, that you are the real opposition.

- How do you plan to come out of the house? As far as I know, you've been staying home for four days, because you may be detained any moment.

- They won't break the doors for an administrative offence. All the detainees were caught in the street. I am an experienced person, so I decided not to walk out of the house, so I won't. As for what happens next - you should know that, it's a shame for a Belsat journalist not to know it. There will be a live stream, Belsat, Euronews and those who signed for it, we will form the column and go. If they stop one taxi, I will take another. I made it to the street actions like this three times.

- So, Mikalai Statkevich has own recipe how to get to a protest action regardless of what the authorities do, right?

- I do not know, may be they will break their own rules and come to break that very flimsy door to the house where I live. Then it will be impossible to stop them. However, I will not go outside voluntarily, will not let them do it legally. Let them break the door.

All these celebrations and concerts - this is not for you, it is for Europe to make amends for the last year, to receive money and a sort of a retreat from Putin. So let them show this to Europe this time, let them show it on "Euronews".