Zmitser Bandarenka: “Authorities would be eager to disperse this rally, but money is more important now”

In is the first solidarity rally at October Square over the last half a year which was held peacefully, “European Belarus” coordinator noted.

The leader of “European Belarus” civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka, as well as dozens of other democratic activists took part in the solidarity rally on October Square in Minsk on November 16. For 40 minutes protesters were standing on the square with portraits of political prisoners and disappeared oppositionists, a poster “We Remember” and white-red-white flags. Policemen were not hindering the rally, which was unusual. However, paddy wagons and police buses packed with riot policemen were standing behind the Palace of Republic.

“It is our old struggle with riot policemen. They prevent us from gathering on October Square, as we demand release of our comrades Asipenka, Autukhovich and Dubski. It is probably the first rally in half a year which was held peacefully. After all, it is our little victory. However, undoubtedly, it is related to the fact that the total foreign debt of Belarus today is 20 billion dollars. For comparison, imagine that the Soviet Union which was 25 times larger than Belarus in terms of population, would have 500 billion dollars. But the USSR have never had such indebtedness, it collapsed when its debt exceeded 120 million dollars.

That is why now Lukashenka needs money badly, all internal and external influence agents are mobilized to get these loans. The authorities would be eager to disperse this rally, but money is more important today. It also demonstrates that the international factor means a lot here. If there wasn’t for this long history of these irrational concessions by Europe, free rallies in Belarus could have started long ago, and not only today, on the day when Brussels adopts a decision on sanctions,” Zmitser Bandarenka is convinced.