Andrei Sannikov: Dismantling of Lukashenka regime has already started

Repressive means are used to force parties to participate in the municipal elections.

The opinion came from the leader of the European Belarus civic campaign, candidate for president in 2010 Andrei Sannikov in his interview to the charter97.org web-site.

- How would you comment on Lukashenka’s recent statements on political prisoners Ales Bialatski and Mikalaj Statkievich?

- Yet again Lukashenka showed a cynical attitude towards the lives of people and that independent judiciary is totally absent in Belarus. Nevertheless, I am glad that after a long pause the talk started on the release of the leaders of Belarusian civil society.

This became possible, in my opinion, for two reasons. The European Union and the United States remained on principled positions, demanding the release and exoneration of all Belarusian political prisoners. Second, before the Ice Hockey World Championship the dictator wants to make it look like some kind of liberalization is possible in Belarus.

I would like to remind that it is not the matter of liberating people, who committed some kind of crimes, but the liberation of political opponents of the dictatorship, who are absolutely innocent by the norms of international law and Belarusian domestic laws alike.

There are many other political prisoners in prisons today, who need to be immediately released. I have a concern that between the statement and release of the political prisoner much time may pass, that is why Belarusian opposition, human rights activists, European Union institutions should increase pressure on the Lukashenka regime, instead of simply believing the dictator’s promises. Even more so that he promised to release political prisoners as early back as in summer 2011.

- In 2011, when you were in prison, many leaders of opposition parties and movements claimed that they would not participate in any elections, while there were political prisoners in the country. Nevertheless, now they are going to participate in municipal elections.

- This is an issue of morale. Opposition leaders should differ from Lukashenka, who makes false statements almost every day. The retreat from the principled position has decreased pressure on the authorities and innocent people still remain in prisons.

It is to the advantage of the authorities if alternative candidates participate in their electoral shows. Already now it is possible to tell how many oppositionists will be there in municipal councils – zero, and all, who will be appointed there – are accomplice to the regime, ready to take part in crimes or cover for such crimes.

By their function municipal councils are adjuncts of the vertical, which do not decide anything at all. That is why if someone claims that one should run for municipal elections in order to solve communal problems or fight for clean houses, then local councils are deprived even of such functions.

- The ones running for the elections say that they intend to send the society the message that there are no elections in the country. According to them, the main thing is the legal opportunity “to send their message to voters”.

- Municipal elections are so insignificant and purposeless that I do not even want to speak of them. One should not get dirty for trifles. There are simple rules of a decent person: not to shake hands with scumbags, not to join the BRYU, not to take part in ”elections”.

This is true, in an adequate society parties’ duty is to participate in elections. But what we have is a dictatorship and one should not dance to the authorities’ fiddle. I would advise people to listen to the messages of the parties, but to go vote.

- Is this why the authorities have forbidden boycotting elections, because it is to their advantage if opposition participates in electoral games?

- They were frightened that people did not come to the so-called parliamentary election, and international observers registered the emptiness of the polling stations. The municipal campaign is of no interest for the population at all. By forbidding boycott Lukashenka wants to show the West that there are elections in the country, in which even opposition participates.

Lukashenka’s friends in the EU countries, who make business with the dictator, are interested in at least some manifestations of liberalization in Belarus. But it ended up as usual. Belarusian parties are forced to participate in elections with repressive measures.

The ban on boycott contradicts even the constitution of Lukashenka. The constitution says that each citizen personally decides whether to take part in elections and whom to vote for.

- Yesterday at a press-conference Lukashenka personally urged everyone to participate in municipal elections. Why?

- The answer is obvious: there is no money in the country. Instead of the promised 8.5% GDP growth there is zero. Russia, having promised $15 billion to Yanukovych, limits the subsidies for Lukashenka’s economy. Yet again there is a need to ask the West for money, for which at least some kind of window dressing liberalization is needed.

- Still, what should be done today in such a difficult situation?

- The situation indeed is very difficult, but even in such a situation one can act reasonably. The latest so-called parliamentary campaign showed that people denied creditworthiness to the authorities. One should understand today that the majority of Belarusians stand against Lukashenka as a dictator. This majority should be consolidated, information should be delivered through independent media, self-made media, principled stand.

The release of political prisoners should be main topic everywhere at all times. Even more so that we know what terrible conditions they are in, what kind of pressure they undergo.

I am sure that the real dismantling of the regime is not far ahead. One can say today that neither the political nor the economic model of Lukashenka’s is not working, while Russia does not have enough money to support all the dictatorships. Changes are happening through the region. One should be patient, but act decisively come the right moment.