Zmitser Dashkevich: Empty polling stations are our main weapon

It will be the most difficult task for the dictatorship to falsify the fact of boycotting the electoral farce by the Belarusians.

Zmitser Dashkevich, a former political prisoner and co-head of Young Front, said it in an interview with charter97.org.

– Young Front activist Eduard Lobau, who now fights in Ukraine, recently told you that Lukashenka had released political prisoners so that the West could recognise his legitimacy after October 11. What should be done to prevent the recognition of the “elections” by international institutions?

– The main thing we must achieve with this regime is the transparency in voter turnout. If the authorities hold “elections” for their legitimisation in the international arena, let's count how many people come and vote.

Preliminary results of this “campaign” show that it doesn't interest people. There are no reasons able to mobilise people for voting. Aliaksandr Lukashenka has been in power for the third decade. Everyone understands that if he has failed to achieve something for 20 years, he won't achieve it for 40 years.

Even those who usually vote for Lukashenka are not enthusiastic about the “elections”. Moods of pro-opposition voters are clearly illustrated by the fact that the opposition representatives who tried to collect votes failed to do it. Most people don't care about the “elections”.

– Maybe it's better not to focus efforts on the voter turnout if interest in “elections” is so low. Empty polling stations will speak for themselves.

- Of course, empty polling stations will speak for themselves. But when we speak about legal aspects, if we demand democratic elections, we must demand a democratic turnout procedure.

– Is the boycott idea acquiring a new meaning and new popularity in connection with Mikalai Statkevich's statement at a press conference on August 28 that the “elections” are already rigged and new elections must be demanded?

– I think it fully complies with the boycott strategy. The wording is different. It is the matter of a definition: non-participation or a boycott.

The only weapon we have today is empty polling stations. It will be the most difficult task for the authorities to falsify this fact. The boycott strategy remains reasonable and effective.