Vintsuk Vyachorka: “Lukashenka cannot defend independence”

Yesterday a protest rally against threats to Belarusian independence was held. It was timed to the visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Minsk. Policemen and riot policemen were sent against the peaceful rally. Policemen were headed by a deputy commander of police lieutenant colonel Najdzenka. When he noticed Vintsuk Vyachorka among the protesters, he ordered to detain him, but the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party was defended by other protesters.

According to Vintsuk Vyachorka, the BPF position on Putin’s visit has been outlined.

“Our independence is overhanged by a real danger, not exactly a formally legal, but economic aggression. Lukashenka, who has brought the country to this situation himself, cannot defend independence, even if he would like to do so. A tied man cannot fight off an enemy. This is true about the Belarusians: they can defend their country under the condition that its hands would be freed from bonds, and its mouth would be ungagged, it means when they would have rights and freedoms, when political prisoners would be released, when free election would allow us to elect the authorities ourselves.

This action was announced at the Congress of the Belarusian Popular Front by Viktar Ivashkevich, who was imprisoned for a half a month yesterday. There was no time for preparation. However, hundreds of people saw it. This time the regime refrained from direct disbanding, but policemen were beating up the protesters. A young activist Zmitser Fedaruk was brutally beaten up. This cruelty is illustrative, as people have expressed their support to Independence of Belarus, the value which is not openly challenged by the today’s regime.

The threat to economic, and then to political independence of Belarus will grow, and we shall prepare mass, better organized protests in defense of our Independence, and primarily on March 25,” Vintsuk Vyachorka said.