General Frolov Versus Alexander Lukashenko :: Charter'97 :: News

Criticizing the government for unsatisfactory work last year Alexander Lukashenko all of a sudden mentioned deputy of the so-called “house of representatives” Valery Frolov. According to those, present at the meeting, Lukashenko said something like this: “If Frolov continues to speak out in public, there’ll be no place for him in Belarus”. “BDG” addressed the general with a request to comment on Lukashenko’s statement.

- I even got an impression as if he saw me as the main root-cause, which drove the Belarusian economy into a deep crisis. That’s why he spoke so emotionally. He hinted that if I continue to speak out (though under the Constitution I have every right for personal thinking) there’ll be no place for me in Belarus. I wonder what he meant by so saying: should I find myself another place to dwell or what?

- Do you take his words for a threat?

- I’d say that’s quite a strong statement for the head of state. In fact, I’ve no clue what wrong did I do to him… One thing I know for sure: my parents are buried here in Chizhovka graveyard (Minsk) and most of my relatives died here. I am also going to pass away here and won’t immigrate anywhere, as different from Zyanon Poznyak and Sharetsky… Everything that comes to pass my way will happen to me here in Belarus. It’s my homeland and I’m not going to leave it regardless of his insinuations. You know, I am a general and won’t go into hiding.

If he’s so frustrated with me, why not invite me and criticize in person. Who knows, may be I would listen to the head of state’s opinion? We could at least discuss things as two civilized people. But how come that he comes up with Frolov’s name when outlining economic outcomes? Was it me indeed who destroyed the economy?