Dzmitry Bandarenka: Let’s Arrange Holiday!

The Lukashenka regime is already falling apart in full accordance with the domino principle.

Coordinator of the European Belarus civil campaign Dzmitry Bandarenka has said this in an interview with Charter97.org as he summed up the results of 2019.

- What has the outgoing year contributed to the understanding of the situation in Belarus? Could you please name the most significant trends?

- In my opinion, in 2019 we observed two main trends - very dynamic, but multidirectional.

The first is the escalation of the activity of Belarusians, and the civil society, in protecting their rights, first of all, the right to their own, independent and sovereign state.

The second trend is the accelerating degradation of the Lukashenka regime in all areas. You can even talk about the active self-devouring System. Let us recall the resignation and arrest of Deputy Head of the Security Council Andrei Utsiuryn, the former head of Lukashenka’s security service; as well as the resignation of one of the pillars of the regime, Minister of Internal Affairs Ihar Shunevich; the resignation of Head and First Deputy Head of the Lukashenka administration after the failure of the so-called “parliamentary elections”; the dismissal of the General Staff Chief and his deputy; high-profile criminal cases against the Ministry of Health and its affiliates, as well as other officials in various regions, and the “court” businessmen.

We must also note Lukashenka’s failures in the economy that has not been growing for many years, and 2019 was no exception. Also, two of Lukashenka’s favorite toys broke: biathlon and hockey, at all levels. We are indeed witnessing an accelerating decline of the regime - perhaps even by the “domino principle”.

On the other hand, in 2019, we saw a significantly increased activity of Belarusians who defended their children, such as women fighting against the long-term arrests under Article 328 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

Opposition movements and political parties tried new tactics during the so-called “election campaign”, which was used by the BNC and the European Belarus structures to actively boycott the “election”. It was possible to hold hundreds of pickets and several bright events.

You can also call 2019 “the year of bloggers.” According to one of Lukashenka’s ministers, they are setting the agenda in many regions today - and that’s not all. We know that many bloggers participated in the so-called “election campaign” as candidates and / or covered it very actively.

Of course, one should also note the powerful environmental movement directed against the Astravets nuclear power plant, as well as against the battery plant in Brest, the pulp mill in Svetlahorsk, and industries harmful to the health of Belarusians in other regions.

I can say that in 2019, the Belarusian civil society, the Belarusian citizens and the opposition really showed their strength and willingness to assert their rights, including in the streets.

- What would you call “the event of the year”? And who are the “people of the year”, in your opinion?

- Okay, I'll try. The number of the year is 90%. Everyone was saying this year that, according to all observations, 90% Belarusians hate Lukashenka.

I would note the movie made by NEXTA blogger “Lukashenka. Criminal materials”. This film was a powerful blow to the power, most Belarusians watched it in a couple of months, and even in an interview with Alexei Venediktov, Lukashenka cried how deeply he was offended.

The slogan of the year is: “Basta to the kolkhoz dictatorship!”, which was voiced not only in the kitchens, but through the sound-amplifying equipment at hundreds of pickets in Minsk and other cities.

The investigation of the year that shocked the whole country is the work of the Deutsche Welle journalists to solve the terrible crimes of the Belarusian authorities.

The leaders of the year, in my opinion, are coordinator of the European Belarus Yauhen Afnahel, and Co-chair of the BCD Pavel Seviarynets. These are the people who very clearly declared themselves in 2019. Many more leaders appeared, including among young people, but Afnahel and Seviarynets reached a new level.

I can also name the main event and anti-event of the year.

The main event of the year, in my opinion, was the ceremony of honoring Kastus Kalinouski and his associates, the rebels of 1863, in Vilnius. Thousands of Belarusians took part in this event, and Vilnius became white-red-white in these two days of festivities.

In general, 2019 pleased with significant events. There were a lot of them - bright and attacking, on our part.

And the anti-event is connected with the opposite side: this is the demolition of crosses at the People’s Memorial in Kurapaty.

- How will the trends you mentioned at the beginning of the interview develop in 2020? What can be expected in the near future?

- According to my information, at the negotiations in Sochi and St. Petersburg, the “Moscow comrades” very persistently recommended Lukashenka not to take part in the 2020 presidential election, because they know how unpopular he is, how ineffective his administrative apparatus is.

Russia is very seriously afraid of the Belarusian Maidan, therefore, they recommend Lukashenka to nominate a successor in the presidential election in 2020. Please note that all “roadmaps”, which are mentioned, will come into force from 2021 to 2023. That is, Lukashenka did not achieve his goal: he will not receive any “carrots” from the Russians, big loans, or any support in 2020.

Lukashenka at the talks asked for their help, but the Russians do not need destabilization in Belarus, so they put pressure on the Belarusian ruler to prevent him from taking part in this election. Naturally, the dictator can act on the principle of a fait accompli: that is, support me, you have no other option. But he had never had such a bad situation.

The year 2019 showed that the Belarusian people are waking up, the civil society and the opposition are gaining strength, and this gives us, all citizens of Belarus, a chance to change the situation.

- What would you like to wish Belarusians so that 2020 is better than the outgoing year?

- I would like to remind you that nothing happens from nothing, and the hope that someone will solve the problems of Belarusians instead of us is illusory. Belarusians can work well, work hard, but there are problems that cannot be solved at the level of one person, family, workforce, or even the High-Tech Park.

There are issues that must be urgently addressed collectively: this is the independence and democratic structure of the country. We know that in democratic countries, countries of the European Union, people live better, richer and more peaceful - and there’s no getting anywhere else. If we want happiness for ourselves, our children and future generations of Belarus, then we need to solve this issue now, remove Lukashenka and change power. If we support each other, if there are many of us, then it will not be so difficult to do.

Let's imagine what joy will be in the country - and we ourselves can arrange this holiday for ourselves - when Lukashenka is no longer at power.

If you like this article, you can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL 97 1160 2202 0000 0002 1671 1123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com