Ales Marachkin: We Must Not Walk Around With Tongue In Cheek

People must wake up and come out to the streets.

Chair of the creative association “Chaser”, member of the steering committee for creating the party “Belarusian Movement” Ales Marachkin has said this in a comment to charter97.org.

– Some candidates for deputies decided to participate in the so-called “parliamentary elections”. Is there any point to take part in this electoral farce?

– I think that even if one or two candidates make it to the “chamber”, nothing will change. As soon as one boss is keeping the power for ages, marking his territory like a dog, nothing is going to happen. He has marked his territory, so even if he lets anyone get closer to the feedbox, no changes will happen. We have only one option to break through this – a mass peaceful protest. Whoever he is – a dictator or someone else – anything can be altered.

I support those who withdraw from the “elections”. How many times should we fall into the same trap? Lukashenka is trying to achieve legitimization of his power. It’s all on the surface: he needs legitimization and recognition.

– Mikalai Statkevich urges Belarusians to come out to the street action on September 12 to demand new free elections. Do you support his initiative?

– Of course. The people have a right to speak up, it is not prohibited. As Kastus Kalinouski said, “not the people for the government, but the government for the people”. Mikalai Statkevich, like all Belarusians, has a right to demand new fair elections.

When the “results” are announced, we need to come out and say what we think. We are walking around with tongue in cheek. We must not keep tongue in cheek all the time, we must wake up and come out to the streets.