Andrei Sannikov: I Would Just Say To Lukashenka: ‘Get Out!’

The leader of the European Belarus Civil Campaign gave an interview to the Locarno Daily Magazine.

A documentary about Belarus titled “This Kind Of Hope” was demonstrated in Locarno, Switzerland. Andrei Sannikov, the leader of the European Belarus Civil Campaign, is the main character of the movie.

The former candidate for the presidency in Belarus gave an interview to the Locarno Daily after the screening.

“Cinema is important in many ways. Feature films and documentaries, especially those well-made and professionally created with a clear and direct message, are on a different level despite the wide production and distribution of videos on YouTube and other platforms. Good cinema influences people more than television in terms of fighting for freedom.

Cinema is very important for Belarus because we have been deprived of our history. To be honest, I'm jealous when I see good Swiss, French, German, Ukrainian and even Russian historical films. Our cinema deprives us not only of history but also of folklore and legends, which are very important for our identity.

Belarus is known for its "partisan" movies, and movies about the Second World War, but this is just a small part of our history. We had the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, one of the most powerful states in Europe, strong and prosperous. Many have no idea about it, because Soviet schools did not teach them, and Lukashenka denies our true history. This is such a Soviet character who hates everything Belarusian.

I can well imagine bright modern documentaries and feature films about our history. Even thousands of books have a limited audience but if you make a historical blockbuster, it will reach millions.

Many world stars have Belarusian roots - Harrison Ford and Scarlett Johansen, for example. Young talented Belarusian filmmakers are working in many countries of the world. They are deprived of the opportunity to realize themselves in their homeland. I dream of the day when all this potential will be in demand in a free Belarus.

Initially, I did not want to participate in "This Kind Of Hope". Being a public figure, oddly enough, I do not like publicity. However, filmmaker Pawel Siczek convinced me that Belarus needed the movie.

The demonstration of the film in Locarno was an emotional event for me. I didn't expect to receive such a warm welcome at this major film festival with all the highest quality movies. Many spectators came up after the demonstration to express their support for our struggle, some were even crying.

What will I do when I come back to free Belarus?

I'll go to the forest to pick mushrooms, meet friends who will be released from prisons. In politics, I will restore what Lukashenka destroyed, primarily our symbols.

Although Lukashenka is an evil incarnate. I am not bloodthirsty, he must face a fair trial.

I personally would just say to him: “Get out!”.