Dzmitry Bandarenka: Defending Independence, Belarusians Count On Ukrainians’ Help

Lukashenka's "swings" appear very strange.

The situation in Belarus was discussed on the air of the Ukrainian TV channel “Pryamy”. Coordinator of the European Belarus civil campaign Dzmitry Bandarenka commented on the Russian-Belarusian relation at the talk show “THE WEEK”.

Watch the video from 21.45

Petro Zalmayev: I want to ask a question to my old friend Zmitser Bandarenka. To which extent, do you think, is the absorption of Belarus by Russia with the current course of Lukashenka inevitable? How much time is left before that?

- Hope this never happens.

We have great hopes for our Ukrainian brothers, because my friends are still on the front line in the Donbas, and we hope that when the Russians try to make this last throw, and the Belarusian people will resist, we will be able to get help including from Ukraine.

But, naturally, we understand that we ourselves will have to fight for our independence.

And the fact that Lukashenka destroyed many of the attributes inherent for an independent state, and subordinated power structures to the Kremlin is, unfortunately, a set fact, and I have to agree with that.

- One of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition, Mikalai Statkevich, said that at least a million Belarusians will fight against the Russian attempt to annex the country with arms. How true is this number?

- Our people know how to fight and have a sense of dignity. Over the years, thirty percent of Belarusians have always voted for representatives of national democratic forces. Also a large number of Belarusian men served and continue to serve in various special forces.

Therefore, I agree with my colleague Statkevich that this will not work out for Russia just like that. Moreover, all Russia’s communications for the contacts with the West go through Belarus (after the start of the war in Ukraine) today.

- We in the program just talked about the seeming cognitive dissonance in the head of the Belarusian leader. On the one hand, it is moving toward a "union state", on the other hand he is vigorously developing the relations with the West, with the USA, with the EU. How did it become that, on the one hand, he talks about this development of relations with the EU, and your organization, which is called “European Belarus”, is forced to work in exile?

- Some of the leaders of “European Belarus” are abroad, a significant part of the activists continue their activities and struggle in Belarus.

However, talking about some dissonance in Lukashenka’s head today - no, there is nothing like that.

Because on the Russian side there is Ambassador Babich, whom Ukraine has rejected, because he is, in fact, not a diplomat, but a spy and organizer of sabotage.

On the other hand - the absence of the American squad. Because at the request of Lukashenka many years ago, the US diplomatic mission was significantly reduced.

And today Belarus does not have its ambassador in Washington, and America is not represented at the ambassador’s level here. The swings appear so strange.They have a short max towards the West. It is necessary to simply receive loans from there, place Eurobonds at a favorable rate and sell oil products there.

- I want to say goodbye with the words that all freedom-loving Belarusians say: “For our and your freedom! ” and “Long Live Belarus!”.

- Glory to Ukraine!