Vital Rymasheuski: Regime conceals referendum’s true purpose

The judiciary reform is only a cover for other issues to be put to the vote.

Co-chairman of the organizational committee for creation of the party Belarusian Christian Democracy (BChD) Vital Rymesheuski shared the opinion as he commented for the charter97.org web-site on the ruler’s initiative of holding another referendum.

“The referendum may be used for reaching political goals of the incumbent regime, concealed from wide public today. The latest referendum had the main issue of prolonging Lukashenka’s term in power up until eternity as well as other issues for covering this up and hazing Belarusian citizens. I have no doubts that this time as well under the plausible and decent intents to reform the judiciary will hide other issues. It is quite possible that the issue of a new integration level will be put to the vote, which means surrendering Belarus’ sovereignty, and other anti-people changes”, - the politicians believes.

BChD’s co-chairman emphasized that for these reasons Belarusian democratic forces should take these statements seriously and get prepared.

“In general a referendum is a nation-wide campaign, and there are no serious reasons for intentionally losing it and by this showing the semblance of democracy. I doubt that the authorities would take such a crafty step, because it is an expensive event financially, and the very process of participating in a referendum means politicizing the population. May be the ruling elite has a great fear of the next elections, but the practice shows that the authorities prepare any electoral campaign as quite as possible so people do not get prematurely politicized. That is why this referendum will not be a game or a cover, but an actual political event, which has serious political goals behind it”, - Vital Rymesheuski is convinced.

We would remind that the concept of judiciary reform, which provides for the merger of general and commercial courts into a single system of general jurisdiction courts, was approved on 19 November at a meeting chaired by Lukashenka. It requires changes to be made to Belarus’ main law. The dictator ordered to develop the respective documents in ten-days’ time.