Zmitser Bandarenka: It Is Time For Democratic Candidates To Withdraw From “Elections”

The action in Kastrychnitskaya Square on September 12 remains the only sense of the whole “electoral campaign”.

Coordinator of the “European Belarus” civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka has said this in an interview to charter97.org.

– The day of the so-called “parliamentary elections” is getting closer. In your opinion, what the democratic activists, who decided to participate in this electoral travesty under various reasons, should do now?

– I think that it is time for the democratic candidates to withdraw from the so-called “elections”. The TV-debates and radio speeches are almost over, so, it’s high time to withdraw so that a candidate’s name wouldn’t appear in the ballots. As the most popular explanation of participation in the “elections” of some democratic candidates was the necessity to take advantage of this campaign and convey their views to the society. Now this time is over, there is no sense to continue participation.

– You mean, most democratic candidates used the campaign to establish a dialogue with the people?

– In any case, this is what they said. As, it is known that even the ODIHR OSCE reports upon the observation over the electoral campaign in Belarus claim that the “elections” are passing unnoticed.

The key reason for this is that Belarusians are clever people. They understand that the “chamber” remains only a decorative body, which decides nothing but stamps Lukashenka’s decrees and the resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers. The society’s interest to this campaign remains at zero level, and the law of marketing states: if the people are not interested, they won’t go to vote.

– Yesterday, speakers of the states that are eager to have closer relations with the European Union arrived to Warsaw. The Belarusian delegation was headed by Deputy Chairman of the “chamber of representatives” Victar Huminski. How would you comment on his visit?

– I think this is a mistaken policy of Poland. Yes, there can be working contacts with the Foreign Ministry or other profile ministries, but the European Union’s position stands on non-recognition of the Belarusian “chamber” as real parliament, as there was no democratic election.

Personally, I stick to the Right views, and if I was a Polish citizen, I would vote for the party "Law and Justice" (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość). However, in this case I sharply criticize such actions. This is very similar to the policy of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski, which he pursued till December 19, 2010, while the "PiS" sharply criticized such policy. And now, for some reason, the Polish government tends to contact with even such an odious structure as the “chamber”.

I would like to remind the Belarusian democratic candidates that today we come across the threat of the legitimization of the “chamber”, and if they fail to withdraw they will become participants of this process and cover themselves with disgrace.

There is no logic in saying there are no “elections” and then declare they should go to the end. Therefore, much depends here on the Belarusian democrats. If we are determined and consistent, then the false idea of recognition of the "chamber" as the real Parliament will fail.

– Mikalai Statkevich calls on the citizens to come out to the action for the new free elections on September 12. Why is this action important for Belarusians?

– If you do not protest publicly, this means you agree with everything that is happening in the country. Mikalai Statkevich is an acknowledged Belarusian leader. I think that his initiative should gain active support. The action on September 12 remains the most important point in the so-called “electoral campaign”.

I think that thousands of people who will participate in this action will be found among Belarusians. The action is very logical as it demands holding really free democratic elections in Belarus under the international supervision.

The free elections can be held in Belarus in, let us say, a year. Both the EU and Poland could make efforts to ensure that a dialogue between the government and the opposition, as a result of which there would be an agreement to hold free and democratic elections, would happen. But first, the Belarusians have to show that they do not agree with the farce that is happening in the country.