Viktar Boldin: Belarusian Cities Extremely Tensed

People have nothing to lose.

During the month, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians made up lines of kilometres to leave their signatures for alternative candidates. The geography of their activity is striking. The whole Belarus has woken up. What is the phenomenon?

Charter97.org talked about it with Viktar Boldin, an activist from Mahiliou and member of the initiative group of a potential presidential candidate Viktar Babariko.

- When compared with other campaigns, there are many more people who sign for alternative candidates. I guess, judging by Mahiliou, it happens four times often.

Secondly, there are more young and older people. The other day two long-haul truck drivers came to the picket to sign for Viktar Babariko. These people used to be very far from politics.

Athletes who train near the picket also sign it. They didn't even look in our direction earlier.

I would like to say that public longs for changes. Viktar Babariko was in the right place at the right time. Belarus is ready for new power.

A lot of people gather at the pickets, Mahiliou residents stop to talk, wonder who it is. On Tuesday, 20 people gathered and everyone had time to talk, no one was in a hurry.

- Many people note that Belarusians are not afraid to express their opinion at pickets and share their problems. What do people who sign for alternative candidates say?

- I did like the Babruisk picket. I noticed a vivid reaction of people.

Everyone goes to pickets with their problems and questions. People have many complaints. During the meeting of Babariko with the initiative group in Mahiliou, I raised the issue of people with disabilities, even if the candidate's program is limited by signs. He said that if the economy developed, they would certainly pay attention to it. They will also add back the period of study in institutions to women's retirement age. People are asking for justice and this candidate is ready to meet it.

- Blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski and his wife Sviatlana became other outstanding members of the campaign. Do your teams interact?

- Activists of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's team show solidarity. Our teams have a fellow feeling for each other.

A lot of young people sign for Tsikhanouskaya. She is great.

I would also note that if there was not such an impulse and enthusiasm of people, it would be very difficult to collect the required number of signatures. People are ready for changes.

On a rainy day, I dropped into houses where I used to collect signatures for other election campaigns. Every entrance has 36 apartments. There is no alcohol addicted. 10 years ago we managed to collect signatures of half of the inhabitants of the entrance, but now only two pensioners said they would sign for Lukashenka.

We only started collecting signatures; there's no need even to explain who Viktar Babariko was. Many people just signed for him.

- Mahiliou region is the birthplace of Lukashenka. According to your observations, what is his rating among his countrymen?

- I think over 80% is against Lukashenka in Mahiliou. We haven't heard anything good about him in three weeks. Only some old ladies cried praising him for repairing bridges and roads. That's the only good thing I've heard about him in three weeks. In general, let him thank our people to be polite.

On Saturday we were at the picket in Krycheu. People were very active there. There are many factories and the activity of the working class is indicative.

- Viktar Babariko said that if people are forced to take to the streets, he will be with the Belarusian people. Are Belarusians ready to defend their choice?

- I'll speak for myself, I'm going to the Square. I think there are many people like me. I'll make a cautious forecast after a trip to Krychau because after the stories of young people it is clear that Belarusians are strongly determined.

People say they have nothing to lose. District cities are now very tensed. The situation increasingly differs from that in 2015. One can see now that the nerve is denuded. Men aged 30-40 years from the Mahiliou region went to Russia, made good money and somehow distracted from it. They have nowhere to go today, and not just because of the coronavirus.

Earnings have dropped in Russia. People are tired of it as well. Many are out of business, unemployed. They sit drinking beer and talking to each other. At this level, they have a vacuum. There is nothing to do. There is no strength to work hard to earn some money. I think this desperate situation call for something new.

- On Facebook, you write that there is a chance to beat Lukashenka this year. What does bring you such confidence?

- Speaking frankly, I have long been confident that Belarus is ready for changes. Given the experience of previous years, especially in 2019 and "elections" to the "house," I saw that Belarus had changed.

It wasn't either a dream or a vision, just an analysis. Besides, I do want Belarus to follow the civilized world. One may think my intuition worked out. It seems to me that the year 2020 will bring changes.

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