Stanislau Shushkevich: Ukrainians give good example to Belarusians

Stanislau Shushkevich, the first head of independent Belarus, praised the courage and the bravery of Ukrainians.

Stanislau Shushkevich said to Radio Svaboda it's difficult to forecast how protests in Kiev would end:

I am happy the people of Ukraine show they want to be in Europe and do it with great courage. I fear that such swindlers as their president and his cronies will find a way to freeze the process of integrating with Europe. In fact, they do it to please Putin, because this is a reliable way of keeping power for all top officials. I admire the courage of Ukrainians and their bravery. They chose the right way of struggling. It is very important. Provocateurs didn't confuse them. They demonstrate their desire to live in Europe. They are fed up with being a part of the empire. This is a good example, but we have to grow to act like Ukrainians.

The Belarusian authorities don't comment on the events in Belarus so far. What can it mean?

What should they comment on? They do their best to beg for charity from Russia. We have a primitive politician. All he can do is asking for aid, and he does it. But it harms Belarus's independence.

At 4 a.m. November 30, the Ukrainian riot police, Berkut, brutally dispersed people on Independence Square who were protesting against Ukraine's refusal to sign an Association Agreement with the EU. 35 people sought medical help, 7 were taken to hospitals.

Thousands of Ukrainians came to St. Michael Square on November 30 to protest against a brutal dispersal of a peaceful rally.

The opposition gathered several hundreds of thousands of people in Kiev on December 1.

Protesters occupied a part of the Kiev City Hall and the trade unions' building. Unidentified provocateurs and the police had clashes in Bankova Street near the presidential administration.

Ukraine's parliament failed to resign the government yesterday as the opposition demanded. In response, demonstrators blocked a number of government buildings, including Yanukovych's residence.

Photo: bymedia.net