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Stanislau Shushkevich: "Referendum" Was Mockery Of Common Sense And Democracy

Stanislau Shushkevich: "Referendum" Was Mockery Of Common Sense And Democracy
STANISLAU SHUSHKEVICH

The first head of independent Belarus has said whether it was possible to avoid the "referendum" on May 14, 1995.

Exactly 24 years ago, at the initiative of the Belarusian dictator, Aliaksandr Lukashenka, a referendum on four issues was held. It was by the results of the referendum that the old Soviet symbols were returned instead of the white - red - white flag and the Pahonia coat of arms, Radio Racyja reports.

– We shouldn’t have allowed that referendum, but it all started much earlier. And the then chairman of the Supreme Soviet, Miachyslau Hryb, also had his hand in the emergence of such a situation. When voting on the Constitution, the first 101 articles were adopted under my chairmanship, and after that, 35 articles were adopted by one vote. The basic law is never passed on a rush basis!

Naturally, in such conditions it was possible to find loopholes, including for the "referendum". This was done by those who wanted power, they didn’t care whether Belarus would become a prosperous European country. They found a legislative hole in which they could put everything they wanted. And the "referendum" itself was a mockery of common sense and democracy. During the big changes, referendums are not held, and if it is done, the voting goes on one issue.

– And how did you react to the fact that after the "referendum" the country returned to the old symbolism?

– How could they leave the national symbols, if the BPF Party, free people who dreamed of living in an independent democratic country were in favour of them? The authorities did not support in any way the Belarusianness, and all further activities confirmed it. But one thing that makes me happy today is that someday we will return our national symbols. I believe in it.

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