Yury Khashchevatski: Two Weeks Are Enough For Lukashenka to Surrender

One needs to ignore "parasite" commissions and to prepare a total boycott.

The first evidence of Belarusians about the work of the "parasite" commissions appeared on the Internet.

Students from the Czech Republic said that 18 officials sit round the office, and a chair for a "parasite" was in the middle. Members of commission refuse to explain why a person was added to the database - only "parasite" should answer questions.

A resident of Hlubokaye remembered only much gold on the neck and hands of the chairman of the commission. "You're standing there like a guilty schoolboy, and you have to prove your innocence. There were 15 people - all were from the district executive committee, including the police. A woman heads the commission - she is wearing lots of gold" the Belarusian says.

Barysau resident told about the commission of 21 "important people" and the same lonely chair for a "parasite" in front of the cream of the district hierarchy.

What do these eloquent stories of Belarusians show? Famous Belarusian film director Yury Khashchevatski shares his opinion with Charter97.org.

- The first thing that comes to mind when you read these descriptions is Francisco Goya's The Inquisition Tribunal.

Here we observe the new Belarusian inquisition and the whole picture of it. Look, they're sitting in gold, and everyone who comes there is already a defendant.

He's sitting on a separate small chair at a separate small table. It reveals all their plans: plebs are not supposed to have a large table to put many things on. Why should a "parasite" be granted such opportunities? Only those who sit in gold and hold court must own them.

But the main thing is that it is done to make people feel guilty from the very beginning. And no matter for what.

To be honest, ones asked to appear there are really to blame. But not of "ignoring" participation in the economy, but of allowing the inquisition to try them. And they keep coming to the offices.

All people complain about Decree No.1. But where do they appleal to? They appeal to an independent media which also need protection from pressure put by Lukashenka's regime. It turns out that the journalists who are supposed to work "illegally" and from abroad, who are often arrested and fined, and deprived of equipment, protect "parasites". And it should be the opposite: Belarusians should stand for their mass media.

Persecuted "parasites" ironically make Lukashenka's own mistake. They are trapped by the situation "got what they had been striving for". Those who wanted to sit still now face a full set of humiliations and lawlessness. As well as Lukashenka, who wanted to get money from Russia for free, and who pays with his powerlessness, collapse of the economy and humiliating surrender of sovereignty.

Similarly, every Belarusian from the "parasite" database surrendered his independence to these inquisitorial commissions, and has to look at their golden chains, sitting on a small chair. Everything is logical: if you do not fight for yourself and others, you come to this.

- Now you're acting as a doctor prescribing a bitter medicine. If a friend and a person you care about, summoned by the "parasite" commission, confidentially asked for advice - what would you tell him?

- I'd tell him to ignore these commissions. Not to suffer humiliation sitting in front of officials wearing gold.

Imagine the situation when none of the Belarusians pay Lukashenka all these taxes and the increased "utilities". Nobody goes to work - millions of those working under the contract system and subject to work for a penny.

To end all this, one has to hold out for two weeks. This is maximum. Actually, I think one week would be enough.

There's only one way out - a total boycott of the power. And we will not have to humiliate ourselves and stand before the commission like a guilty pupil. All these illegal commissions will be called to order, taken down and, figuratively speaking, removed their gold chains and rings.

This glitzy gold is nothing. Lukashenka's people will have to be liable for all palaces and cottages built at the expense of people, for all offshore accounts opened on exotic islands. It all should be given back to people.

But there's one condition: we should recognize ourselves as the nation. To understand that this regime can be successfully fought against. And start trusting each other. Only mutual trust and solidarity can give us strength.