Palina Sharenda: The Situations Develops at a Staggering Rate

People are craving one thing.

Brest activist of the European Belarus civil campaign - Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk - stated this in an interview with Charter97.org when commenting on the events of the last days in the country.

- During the parliamentary campaign late last year, you impressed with your courage, having clearly stated on central television that Lukashenka had to resign. How far from it are we now?

- The moods we observe have been brewing for a long time. Even when we collected signatures for Andrei Sannikov in 2010, people approached and said "anyone but him".

Now millions of Belarusians play these words on repeat. Given a historical context, the demand for Lukashenka's resignation and hatred towards him is a historical phenomenon. Earlier someone stood for "white", someone for "red", someone was a Catholic, someone was a Protestant. Now the hatred towards the regime has united everyone: rich and poor, left and right, people of different views.

Lukashenka's only achievement is that dozens of people hated him when he was the head of the collective farm, and now millions do this.

"Sasha 3%" is his well-deserved nickname. Although, this figure may already be closer to 0.3%. There are no more people in their right mind who would support his power.

As of today, the situation in our country is almost revolutionary. Everyone wonders when and where to come to make Lukashenka resign. People dream of the end of this.

Today we see our best national qualities coming to the forefront. As if the gene pool of our ancestors has revived and the courage, activity and pride have returned to people. In my opinion, the Belarusian people are evolving rapidly; the qualities of the European nation are returning to them - first of all, the sense of justice.

People have realized their right for changes and their desire to put an end to this regime once and for all.

- What do Brest residents say at pickets? How does the "street moods" differ from previous ones?

- Everything has drastically changed. Of course, everyone heard about Brest in 2017 during the marches of "parasites", and later, during the protests against the battery plant.

The situation is evolving at a staggering rate. There are no more those cautious conversations - "we need to act within the law". There is no naive expectation that local officials may "feel ashamed," and the Prosecutor's Office or other bodies will react. People know that they deal with the illegal regime, the real mafia: there is neither Prosecutors' Office nor courts, but only an organized criminal group led by Lukashenka.

They have no illusions that some cosmetic measures can help. Everyone is craving only one thing: a change of power.

In early 2020, there were feelings that this year would be decisive for Belarus. Now they are confirmed. People are ready to change power this year. They know that one can't wait any longer. At the same time, many people realize that voting is not enough. This is a more complex process. However, people are ready to reach for changes.

- How do you think we could achieve changes?

- As a politician and an activist, I believe that there should be some algorithm. First of all, we should ensure elections without the participation of such state criminals as Lukashenka and Yermoshyna. It is possible only with street protests. The street is our legal and legitimate means when such insolent usurpers have seized power in the country.

The statements of these two people make people go angry. Almost everyone agrees that the street and the Square are fully legal methods in our situation. This is not a riot, not Maidan in the sense Lukashenka refers to, but the return of justice.

Secondly, we must fight for the release of protest leaders - people's blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Mikalai Statkevich and others. There are many examples in history when such people were released not by those who jailed them but people who ruined the walls of a prison. Such variant may be exercised. The events that have become possible in the history of other countries can occur in Belarus.

And finally, work at the international level is required. One should explain what is going on in Belarus. Europe should keep a close eye and refrain from its "we express our concern". One should require determination from the European governments to the Belarusian regime.

- In regional centers, the social distance is shorter than in Minsk; ad activists often become aware of the mood among local authorities. Do you know what is happening on the other side of the barricades?

- You know, there is a certain, very small group of people who will follow Lukashenka to the end. They committed grave crimes together.

However, the middle class has already taken a wait-and-see position. The middle-ranking officials will be guided by the situation. They'll be watching the pendulum. They can indeed sabotage some of the craziest and most odious orders from above.

Here in Brest, we often see representatives of middle and lower levels of power coming to meetings with initiative groups and signing for protest candidates.

- That is, do they come to the pickets of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Lukashenka is so nervous about?

- Yes, they do. I'm not saying that there are many of them. However, they stand in groups and discuss; some of them sign.

We know that they are at the crossroads. They decide behind the scenes what to do and how the situation will develop. If they committed no grave crimes and have some legal property, they are also interested in Lukashenka's resignation.

I guess many of them are ready to listen to the proposal: if you take the side of the people and ignore criminal orders, you will not be in prison with Lukashenka. I think such proposals do make sense.

Let's remember that Lukashenka is a prison guard both by vocation and his worldview. He has built a half prison and a half collective farm in Belarus. All his statements and actions indicate the behaviour of a prison guard, who feels the end is about to come.

There are many examples in world history when such people were cornered and wanted to drag into the abyss their entourage. His entourage can twist this "cockroach" and bring him to justice.

In this regard, I'd like to recall that there have already been first wake-up calls from the Brest region - the officers in the army are ready to take the side of the people. In particular, the military stated that at a picket for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Luninets.

This is symptomatic. After all, people see that the situation in the country is coming to its final stage. Belarus is not such a big state. People can know each other due to the people around them - neighbours, relatives.

Every normal person in Belarus has one idea - to get rid of this not even a cockroach but an encephalitis mite thriving on our country.

Everybody knows that this process can last for a while. We need to build ourselves up and realize that this summer we need to reverse the situation. We need to sacrifice something: to ignore vacation, a summer cottage. Otherwise, these cockroaches and criminals will breed again throughout Belarus.

We must properly use our time, take to the Square and stand there as long as necessary until we gain freedom. We must realise that freedom, like love, is God's gift. We should get this gift of freedom.

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