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Zmitser Bandarenka: Yarmoshyna Understands That She Is Participator In Crime

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Zmitser Bandarenka: Yarmoshyna Understands That She Is Participator In Crime
ZMITSER BANDARENKA

The opposition candidates must withdraw from the “elections” after September 2 in order not to help the government.

Coordinator of the civil campaign European Belarus Zmitser Bandarenka said that in his interview to charter97.org.

– The so-called “election campaign” is being held in Belarus. A part of the opposition refused to participate in the electoral farce, but still several dozen opposition candidates have been registered and participate in the “elections.” Why are they doing that?

– A part of the opposition have decided to participate in this campaign for different reasons. One of the reasons can be easily understood – they take advantage of more “liberal” conditions for conducting information campaigns. They participants in order to tell people about their parties, alternative programs, use the “elections” for criticizing the authorities.

But it would make sense only if, having used the airtime on television and radio, these candidates withdraw after 2 September.

Now there is a great risk that the “house of representatives” will be recognized legitimate, because the lobbyists of Lukashenka and Putin abroad do everything for that. It can not be allowed.

Much responsibility rests with well-known party leaders Anatol Liabedzka, Pavel Seviarynets and Vital Rymasheuski. They communicate with representatives of international organizations and understand very well what is going to follow. They have to do everything possible for the representatives of their parties and organizations to withdraw from the “elections” and not to help the legitimization of the pseudo-parliament.

– The other day chairman of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna made a scandalous statement. She said some opposition members want to disrupt the election campaign. And even direct threats were made, such as “Prison did not teach them anything.” You yourself have stayed in prison for a year and a half after the “elections” in 2010. How did these words of the CEC head cause you to feel?

– Yarmoshyna made a Freudian slip. Being a lawyer, she is well aware that she is a long-term participator in a crime, which is regarded as very serious under the Criminal Code of Belarus, namely – the illegal retention of power. According to article 357 of the Criminal Code this offense carries punishment up to full execution. Yarmoshyna, of course, fears that any protests under the conditions of the economic disaster, that has happened in Belarus due to incompetent Lukashenka’s regime, could escalate into mass protests. And then Yarmoshyna and this whole gang will have to answer before the law under this very article.

– What do you think about the rally of 12 September, declared by Mikalai Statkevich?

– Statkevich as a leader is doing everything possible in this situation. He shows courage and he is logical. If people do not protest, it means they agree to be slaves of the regime. If people believe that this “elections” are a fake, that it is a violation of the Constitution, then they should go to protest or to leave the country, rather than whisper in the kitchen: “How difficult my life is.”

I think that people, who have a sense of self-worth and self-esteem, will come to the rally, demanding free elections under international supervision. I suppose that thousands of people will take part in the rally on Kastrychnitskaya Square under the slogan “For free elections!”

– Recently, a well-known journalist Siarhei Dubavets wrote an article about the “presidential elections” in 2010, where he called the Square a provocation. This provoked protest and rejection reactions in public settings, in particular, among former political prisoners. In the next article, he expressed support to Dzmitryeu and Ramanchuk, noting that he did not care whether they were KGB agents, the main thing they were in favor of the so-called “peaceful change.” How can we explain this loss of moral compass?

– The fact, that today Dubavets is in Dzmitryeu and Ramanchuk’s company, is a logical outcome of the talented person’s moral drift. But no cowards and traitors will be able to review the results of the Square-2010. The Square, that showed the power of the Belarusian opposition, the desire of the Belarusians for freedom, which was supported by a lot of mindful and decent people around the world.

It is thanks to the Square that the whole world got to know Belarus. The world's leading media wrote about its heroes and those events, dozens of documentaries were filmed, plays were put on stage, several books were written and even the first modern Belarusian feature film “Long Live Belarus!” was done.

And I want to say that those, who do something, who fight for their rights, get help and support. After the Square the support for the media, human rights organizations, cultural and educational projects, civil society in Belarus was increased by times. It is thanks to the Square that hundreds of young Belarusians are able to study at universities in Poland and the world. I was one of the participants and organizers of this event, and I feel proud for being involved in this significant event in the modern history of Belarus.

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