Barys Khamajda about “election”: One shouldn’t play by criminal gang’s rules

A free election in Belarus is possible only in case constitutional norms of 1994 are restored. Any other variants could turn into the game with thimble-riggers.

Such an opinion has been expressed by a well-known Vitsebsk oppositionist Barys Khamajda to charter97.org website.

- The probable date of the presidential “election” in Belarus, October 11, has been announced several times already. In case this date will be confirmed, there is not much time left. What is your estimation of this event?

- I stick to the position of boycotting “the election”. It should be boycotted, as we do not have election. In 1996 an anti-constitutional coup took place, and we should not play by the rules of this criminal gang, which is in power in the country now. First of all, we should work for the country to return into the constitutional framework, to return to the legitimate constitution of 1994. Only after that real election should be held. Without that any “election” will be a farce.

- In which way this return to the constitutional regime could be made?

- As long as the country is ruled by Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the turn toward the legitimate constitution of 1994 is impossible. That is why I believe that we should prepare for the Square, to compel Lukashenka to resign office in some way. Then we would be able to return to the constitutional regime of 1994. We have no prospects without return to this Constitution. And now in fact we have got stuck in stagnation, like in a “black hole”. There is no legitimate fundamental law, laws are not working, and everything the regime is doing is simply illegal.

I would like to stress once again: we should not play by the rules of the criminal gang. It is the same thing as to mess with thimble-riggers. To play with the regime by its rules is the same thing as to try to win in a game with thimble-riggers at a market in 1990ies.