19 March 2024, Tuesday, 6:49
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Andrei Sannikov: We Still Have One Option – Street

18
Andrei Sannikov: We Still Have One Option – Street

It is obvious that in fact the “parliamentary elections” will be boycotted.

Leader of European Belarus civil campaign Andrei Sannikov said that in his interview to charter97.org.

– The election campaign for the “house of representatives” has already been started. Part of the opposition takes part in it, a part – refused, citing the senselessness of the event. What is the position of European Belarus?

– It should be noted that the opposition has been trying to find the best solution for this election campaign in the country's interests. But the authorities have demonstrated that they are not going to hold an even minimally transparent campaign. Their goal remains the same – faking.

Yes, it was hoped that under the pressure of crisis the authorities would take a step to make up with the society, but the decisions that have been taken in recent years – the categorical refusal to implement the recommendations of the OSCE ODIHR, the opposition non-inclusion in the electoral commissions – confirm that this campaign will be carried out under maybe even tougher scenario in favor of the regime. There’s no sense to participate in this.

– The REP Trade Union has stated in its statement on the refusal to participate in these “elections,” that 30% from the old “parliament” members will remain “deputies”, and 70% will be assigned by the government. Who will these appointees be?

– They are all the same – deeply loyal, dumb and integrated into the power people, because only they can fully support this regime, it absurd initiatives and laws. I think even such groups as “Tell the Truth,” which are totally controlled by the KGB, will not get into the “parliament.” Today the regime is trying to create an illusion of the elections. For this purpose it projects fake candidates, like it happened at the last “presidential elections.” But the cynicism and impudence of this campaign are even worse now.

– Some days ago BelaPAN published an interview with US Charge d'Affaires in Belarus Scott Roland, who said that “even if the opposition is not able to get into the parliament, but if there is some noticeable progress in implementing the OSCE recommendations during the election campaign in general, it will be possible to say that this is a step forward.” Does this mean that the US will remove sanctions from Lukashenka, no matter what the elections results are?

– Honestly, I was very surprised with this interview. I even couldn’t figure out at first which country he was talking about. Because it is naïve to expect anything from the campaign led by the serial offender Yarmoshyna and her fraud assistants. It sounds like deep space to me.

It is clear that there are some negotiations with the regime lobbyists in the West. It is not a secret that they expect to give Lukashenka’s regime a legal status under the guise of the war in Ukraine and other European problems (Brexit, refugees). But it wouldn’t make neither people’s life easier, nor improve the economic situation in Belarus.

One cannot comply with a dictatorship. A dictatorship will always suggest a fake elections scenario, and it’s essential to insist on holding free and fair election campaign, and transparent vote counting. And this is the only way to establish normal relationships with the West. Otherwise sanctions are to be used.

– One of the opposition leaders Mikalai Statkevich claimed that in case he was not registered Narodnaya Hramada would refuse to participate in these “elections.” In case of he was registered he would be holding protest rallies during the campaign, and withdraw his candidacy the day before the elections. What do you think of such a scheme?

– We have discussed the general strategy with Mikalai Statkevich. In many ways our approaches are quite similar. The regime must be criticized severely, we should demand fair elections without Lukashenka’s henchmen.

What Mikalai is suggesting today is an attempt to revive the situation, but our actions should have nothing to do with the registration or non-registration. There should be a plan of action aimed at changing the situation in the country. Today, the authorities have left us the only option – the street. So, we must work on this.

The crisis in the economy forces us to act more decisively in order to change this regime.

– Why does that part of the opposition, which is taking part in the “elections,” organize boring formal pickets, collecting signatures, instead of holding striking rallies?

– In 2010, European Belarus held a rather active campaign. There were a lot of pickets around the country, daily meetings with voters, and we were organizing mass protests. Today one can notice that parties are not eager to be active. The campaign is quite a formality, but that will be enough for the regime to announce that the opposition is taking part in the “elections” and its crushing defeat.

There is one more excuse from taking action – taking part in the observation. But firstly, it is the international observers’ prerogative. Secondly, for 22 years of observation dozens of volumes have been written about the election fraud in Belarus, it is in full view and well known.

And what is the most important – people just won’t go to the polls, we have been deprived of hope again. It is obvious that in fact the pseudo-elections will be boycotted.

– It is already clear that the campaign will not change the situation. What is the way out then?

– Activity of each of us is the way out. We need protest actions, information work, understanding that if we defend our interests at work and on the street, we will make common change. To prevent chaos and collapse, Belarus needs to hold fair elections, in which, I am sure, the democratic opposition will win. The demand to hold free elections should become the strategy of the opposition within the country; and the international community should also press Lukashenka for this under conditions of the economic crisis in which the country appeared due to the current regime. And as history shows, dictatorships in such a situation are forced to concede.

Write your comment 18

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts