Alexandra Gerasimenya: Soon Lukashenka will End As a Politician

Or maybe even as a person.

Famous athlete and Olympic medalist Alexandra Gerasimenya believes Belarusians are not interested in the Olympic Games now, so it turns out athletes compete in Beijing only for Lukashenka's regime. She says it in an interview with Belsat.

"In the current situation, the Olympic Games take second place. People are not interested in sports. They don't want to support the athletes. They are concerned about their loved ones, those who are in prison, those who have suffered... All these pathos at the Olympic Games, presentation of the Belarusian flag... nobody needs it. Now the athletes are representing the regime. They do not compete for the people, because the people do not need it.

Everyone made a choice. I understand the athletes; they take a long time to prepare and not everyone can miss the games because of such a difficult situation. Some may have it as the last game. However, I think it was possible to find a way to perform at these games, but not to represent the regime", she said.

Gerasimenya considers the Belarusian athletes were carrying two national flags at the opening ceremony in Beijing for a reason, even though all the teams held one flag at a time. In her opinion, this way the athletes wanted "to show their belonging to this regime". "I was very surprised they didn't carry a portrait (of Lukashenka - ed.)," added Gerasimenya.

Commenting on the fact that Aliaksandr Lukashenka was not invited to the opening of the Olympics in Beijing, Gerasimenya said:

"They understand that Lukashenka won't be around for long, and it's not good to be friends with him. Everybody understands he is a ghost man. Soon he will end as a politician at all, and maybe even as a person".