Impeachment For Lukashenka

20 years ago, the ruler committed a turnover.

Already back then, only two years after being elected president, the Belarusian leader felt no shame using illegal methods, but the dictator managed to avoid impeachment somehow then, BelSAT writes.

“What we call a “referendum” actually was seizure of power by an anti-constitutional method,” – Siamion Sharetski, the Chairman of the Supreme Council (1996) is convinced.

He dispersed the Parliament and seized the Central Elections Commission

To achieve his goal, Lukashenka dispersed the legitimate Supreme Council of the 13th convocation. He simply dismissed Chairman of the Central Elections Commission Victar Hanchar, who was outraged by the process of the referendum-1996. His position was taken (and is still occupied) by Lidziya Yarmoshyna.

"The legal orgy that took place around the referendum in the last 10 days, did not fit not only in the framework of the current legislation, but also the boundaries of common sense," – Victar Hanchar said at the time.

Opponents started disappearing

Three years after this statement, the young and perspective politician, Lukashenka’s opponent, disappeared under still unknown circumstances. In three days, Belarus will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the referendum, which turned the young state to the imitation of the deceased Soviet Union, off the path to democracy.

“I take what happened then as an act of God, a force majeure. It was meant to happen. Just because the idea of some populist striving for authoritarianism coming to power was in the air. This was an emanation of the mass conscience. The people then got tired of the chaos and devastation. They wanted firm government,” – Volha Abramava, the deputy of the Supreme Council of the 13th convocation, has clarified.

Belarusians voted for a pig in a poke

They recalled how the unconstitutional action of the 96th happened, at the meeting of the Expert Club "Professionally About Timely Issues" in the office of the United Civil Party today, also with the direct witnesses of those events, members of the Supreme Council of the 13th convocation.

"Four days of early voting have already passed, and the polls have not yet received the text of the Constitution, for which people voted. It was not published either. The people voted for a pig in a poke. Not to mention the fact that the alternative draft Constitution did not appear in print until the end of the voting, " – Siarhei Kaliakin has said.

It resulted in usurpation of power

As a result of the referendum- 96 the Constitution was changed, and the power in the country was completely concentrated in the hands of Lukashenka. Bypassing the decision of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Council. Regardless of the allegations of falsification of the results.

Also as a result of the plebiscite, among other things, they retained the death penalty and abolished private ownership of land.

The consequences are very dangerous

"These problems, social, economic, human rights issues, they accumulate, it becomes more and more of them. I think, today's authorities are incapable of solving thereof, "– Mechyslau Gryb, the Chairman of the Supreme Council (1994-1996) has said.

There is a need for Belarusians to save the country for themselves and future generations, and therefore – to confront the dictatorship. Former presidential candidate and political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich calls upon Belarusians to hold a rally on the anniversary of the referendum-96, on November 24. The action is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.in the Freedom Square in Minsk.