Viktor Shenderovich: Strategically, There Is No Lukashenka Anymore

The usurper is cornered, and Belarusians won.

In an interview with Radio Svaboda, Russian writer and publicist Viktor Shenderovich spoke about his vision of the situation in Belarus: why Lukashenka lost strategically, while Belarusians need to continue a massive peaceful protest.

Lukashenka lost strategically, and Belarusians won

I think that Lukashenka is absolutely indifferent to Putin. Now he is fighting for his life. He drove himself into such a corner when it comes to the fact that he has no life without power, at least in freedom.

Strategically, Lukashenka lost, and the Belarusians won. Strategically, there is no "president" Lukashenka. There is no legal or semantic legitimacy.

Where can Lukashenka run away

To Rostov, like Yanukovych. Maybe to China. It is clear that he will cling to power to the last. Even Putin's government can get tired of literally paying for this madness. Russia maintains many tyrants all over the world, and the country itself does not have enough funds for its own hospitals. If Putin gets tired of this and the losses from Lukashenka will exceed Putin's fear of dealing with a relatively independent government... There was Babaryka's option; we could do it two months ago, but we skipped that point. Today Belarus wants to be completely free and not go from the power of Lukashenka to the power of Putin.

Why the continuation of the protest guarantees the lives of political prisoners

The number of people taking to the streets of Belarusian cities provides life for political prisoners. If he (Lukashenka - ed.) will understand that the wave has subsided, that he can do absolutely everything. There is already blood on him, and a lot of blood, and it will not stop him.

The US elections distracted attention from the events in Belarus. The focus of attention is gone. This is very good for Lukashenka and very bad for all ordinary people. Biden's administration will pay some attention to the events in Belarus. The more attention there is, the more expensive Lukashenka will pay for the violence; the more sanctions, the more economic losses, and personal threats, the more likely it is that at least there will be no blood.

It is important that Lukashenka understands that it will be difficult to pay for the violence. The greater the pressure inside the country and outside, the more organized it is, the greater the chance that violence will not turn into a completely bloody plane. Belarus should not leave the focus of attention.