Stanislau Shushkevich: We must struggle against meanness

The first head of independent Belarus called charter97.org and said: “I want to share my opinion.”

Stanislau Shushkevich was indignant over statements by Aliaksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the Movement for Freedom.

“If we hear that opposition members fight with one another more severely than with the regime, it means just one thing: There are people who behave in a meaner way that the regime. They took the side of the regime and feel good using the West's support and pretending to be the opposition. In fact, they have turned into a pillar of the regime. This is a disgrace,” Stanislau Shushkevich said.

“I have been watching this process for a long time. I just didn't want to speak about it before. But I must say it now. I saw Aliaksandr Milinkevich in Europe many times. He kissed with Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Javier Solana. When they departed from their principled positions, Milinkevich continued to please them. He has done and continues to do it, because this behavior helps the Movement for Freedom, which has turned into a destroyer of the Belarusian opposition, to survive and receive financial aid.

What is the most unpleasant here? This man says we must 'adhere to the principles of justice' in our difficult conditions. But we need to struggle against meanness if we follow these principles. If the authorities are using harsh propaganda, the opposition must apply best efforts to respond with counterpropaganda. Small woman Natallia Radzina finds tools to fight with the propaganda and makes the website that reveals the essence of the regime. You must pray for this site if you are a real Belarusian and fight for freedom of your country,” the first head of independent Belarus said.

Speaking about the Popular Referendum, a new initiative announced on May 20 by the Movement for Freedom, the BPF party and Tell the Truth civil campaign, Shushkevich noted:

“The initiative Popular Referendum is stupid from the perspective of political science. Read the Constitution. Elections and referendums are announced by Lukashenka and the 'house of representatives' under his control. How can we say about referendums and elections? Even students know it is impossible. Initiators of the campaign just decided to confuse people, but forgot to open the Constitution.

Let's see what happened to the opposition. The most famous people – Ales Marachkin, Mikola Kupava, Yury Khadyka, Piotr Sadouski and many others – quit the Belarusian Popular Front, the party that used to be reputable. I'd like to recommend Aliaksei Yanukevich, a co-author of the initiative, to apologize to the people, the honour of the country, who were not able to stay in the party because a young hungry bunch gained the power.

These people – Milinkevich, Yanukevich and others – forgot how to do something. They can only echo the regime and fool the EU. This is not the opposition. This is a disgrace of the opposition, a carcinoma on its body that grew to a huge size. Milinkevich has always looked for profit for his team. How did you reach the level when no one believes you?

I am really upset that talented poet Uladzimir Niakliaeu has joined the initiators of the so called Popular Referendum. It's disappointing that Milinkevich and others managed to fool him,” Shushkevich said.

The politician said about the report of the European Parliament's Rapporteur Justas Paleckis:

“Lord Bell once though up how the image of the regime could be improved. Other people implement his plans today. I don't understand what changes Justas Paleckis saw. What positive changes did he find? We have none of them. If speaking about myself: I am 78 years, my pension is 3,200 rubles, I cannot work in Belarus and have to work abroad because the EP's rapporteur listens to such people as Milinkevich. I hope Justas Paleckis, whom I know personally, just made a mistake.”