Valery Frolov, Vladimir Parfenovich To Engage In People’s March :: Charter'97 :: News

Representatives of the deputies’ group “Respublika” Valery Frolov and Vladimir Parfenovich entered the organizing committee for holding the People’s March “For Better Life!”, due to take place in Belarus on March 12. Thrice the Olympic champion in canoeing Vladimir Parfenovich considers his involvement in the protest to be his duty. “For those, who will take part in that action, indeed want to change situation for the better. I’m obliged to be with those, who elected me and those, whose lives are so hard today,” – said Parfenovich in an interview to Charter’s press-center.

- Why have you decided to uphold the People’s March “For Better Life!”?

- Because it will attract those people, who want to change the situation. I have to be with those, who elected me and whose life is so complicated today.

- Aren’t you afraid to take part in the action, which is so untypical today for the Belarusian “parliamentarians”?

- Of course, the “house of representatives” members never engaged in the actions of that kind. But once people take to the streets, a true deputy has to be there with them. They didn’t elect him so that he would sit comfortably in a cozy apartment. And I fear not to take part in the action. I am Belarusian citizen and don’t violate any laws by doing that.

- Are you going to call on your colleagues from the parliament to join you in the spring action?

- Let this remain on the conscience of every deputy.

- How do you intend to help this action? Will you plead with the authorities to sanction it in order to avoid any clashes?

- Sure, I will. I’d like to take part in instructing the troops, which will safeguard public order during the People’s March. I would explain to them that it would be normal Belarusians who take part in the action, just as those who continue to rest on their couches and watch TV news. Moreover, within the framework of the Constitution and laws I will do my best to make the city hall allow the People’s March in the requested format.

- Apart from the People’s March how else would you help improve population’s welfare?

- By legislative measures. In the near future we will try to elaborate the law on public utilities. In early March there will be held a process in the Constitutional court on the problems of the paid medicine. We assume that this phenomenon is an infringement of the Belarusian Constitution, which guarantees free medical treatment to all.

Charter’s press-center also inquired from Parfenovich’s colleague general Valery Frolov, whether or not he fears the possible consequences of this step.

- No, I don’t fear. In fact, I’m sick and tired of being afraid. Am I not living in my native country?

As concerns the reason for his becoming one of the People’s March organizers, the general said that he had to do so due to the circumstances. “Implementation of mass actions is one of the ways in which we can affect the authorities. And we should use that tool, for the situation in the country is really catastrophic,” – stated Frolov.