Valery Ukhnaliou: «Authorities needed a provocation»

The Social March organized by the Belarusian opposition was held in Minsk on Sunday, November 4. The participants of the action protested against the social politics of the state, benefits abolition and employment contract system.

Head of the organization committee of the Social March, member of the Party Belarusian of Communists Valery Ukhnaliou told “Polish Radio” the action was a success.

- We give a high esteem to the Social March, and we have achieved our goals. We have seen many new people who came to the March but had never participated in the democratic forces’ actions before. This is the most important point for us. Despite today’s bad weather, people have come and expressed themselves. Many common people were eager to protest against benefits abolition and low living standard.

We believe the action has brought new people to our movement. We will keep on holding Social Marches, and I hope these actions will help us attract those citizens who were afraid and hence silent.

- A conflict between anarchists and members of the ultra-right party “White Will” (“Belaya Volia”) arouse during the action. Will you comment on the fight?

- I expect the Belarusian television to show this very picture: there are such “rogues” in the opposition, and they still want people to join them. In my view, they will say the officials authorized a peaceful meeting and the opposition stirred up a fight. And they will say it on purpose, so that the viewers accept the image of a caring and attentive state: on November 6, Lukashenka is to announce his decree on a partial preservation of the benefits for certain social groups.

That’s the way they will present the message: on the one hand, “rogues” of the opposition loafing about and fight with each other; on the other hand, people’s regime taking care of the nation’s welfare. The regime is headed by Aliaksandar Rygoravich who attempts to improve people’s life and smooth the consequences of deputies’ mistakes.

That’s how the official propaganda will work comparing the two sides, and that’s why they needed a provocation.

- And what will you say about your detention exercised before the action that was authorized by the officials?

- They were perfectly aware that being the head of the Organization committee, I am in charge of a range of organization issues. And they thought the three hours of detention and identification - and they can keep a person for identification only for three hours - would cause problems to the organization of the march. They kept me until they saw people still were coming and the march was sure to take place. They released me after the column had started moving. But hardly had I arrived to the march when I was detained again; this time investigation was performed right there, I wasn’t taken to a police station.