Pavel Seviarynets: We Must Raise And Awaken Belarusian People

The politician spoke about plans "A" and "B".

The guest of Radio Racyja, head of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Pavel Seviarynets, tells about the plans of "A" and "B," developed by the opposition for the presidential campaign, criticism of these plans from different sides, the potential of the Square.

- Just the other day, at a meeting of the National Rada of the BCD, you were nominated as a candidate of the BCD at the future presidential elections. A day later there was a press conference of five democrat parties and organizations, which stated that they had found mutual understanding and started the process of nominating a common candidate.

- We have a problem, which is that we do not have elections. Therefore, even the nomination of a common candidate from several parties or organizations does not solve anything. There are no elections, and something has to be done about it.

That's why we propose a popular vote - the so-called primaries. The people's vote is a two and a half month tour around the whole Belarus, more than 80 towns. The people will speak out and vote for a common leader.

The common leader of the democratic opposition can become a leader of participation, a leader of protest, a leader of boycott. Depending on the situation that will develop. The fact that the opposition should have a common leader is beyond doubt to me.

In case of an aggravation of the situation or force majeure, the opposition, which speaks with 7-10 votes, is nothing. But if there is one voice, you can hear it. And the voice of the Belarusian people is heard.

The main task of the "common candidate" campaign, in my opinion, is to break the scenario of frauds and break the regime's scenario even before the campaign gets underway. To pose the questions point-blank - Yarmoshyna's resignation, Lukashenka's non-participation in this campaign. Then the election makes sense. If not, then it makes no sense to be backup dancers.

And we have a plan "B". In case of repression, non-registration of the common candidate, tightening the screws just for the performance - a boycott. And this boycott can become more massive than ever.

- Doesn't this procedure seem too complicated and long to you? What if Lukashenka announces elections already in May or June?

- If it happens, the procedure will have to be compressed in time. Get by with the big cities, reduce Internet voting for several weeks. But this procedure, I am convinced, should be conducted.

What for? To gain strength. At this point, even the unified capabilities of the people who are in all these five parties, and of those who will join, are not enough to break the scenario of falsification. We must raise and awaken the Belarusian people. I think we will have to hold mass protests against Yarmoshyna, as the organizer of these elections, and against Lukashenka's participation. These are the two main strategic goals that the opposition is now facing.

- As soon as five democratic parties announced the procedure of nominating a common candidate, strong criticism immediately came down on them, including a negative comment by Zianon Pazniak. He said that these people "have absolutely no shame. Particularly surprising was Seviarynets, who rose up and suddenly fell again into the gawn of the opposition of the time of Hans-Georg Wieck, which supports the regime and the elections".

- I have great respect for Zianon Pazniak and I appreciate his opinion, but here all criticism comes from what we already think about the process of so-called Lukaszenka voting.

I insist that the main events will take place in late spring - in May, when this campaign is announced. We are not talking now about visiting apartments and collecting signatures, about campaigning for a common candidate, we are not talking about being backup dancers for Lukashenka at the elections, organized by Yarmoshyna.

We are talking about the need for all of us - Zianon Pazniak, Uladzimir Matskevich, the leaders of the parties and the BNC to unite in order to break the scenario of falsifications. Belarusians, do you need free elections? Are you ready to take to the streets for them, sign petitions in millions in order to dismiss Yarmoshyna and prevent Lukashenka's participation?

During the popular vote, we will gain this strength and in May, I think, we will present a claim to this system.