And will you shake hands with Lukashenka? :: Charter'97 :: News

Leader of the democratic forces Alyaksandr Milinkevich gave his hand to Lukashenka by addressing an open letter to him with the prepositions on democratization of the situation in the country. «Nashua Nіva» asks public and cultural figures if they are ready to shake hands with Lukashenka?

Ales Byalyatsky, human rights defender: ‘It’s hard to say. Maybe, there are exclusive cases when I would agree to shake his hand, if, for example, this handshake could have changed something. Then I would have done it. However, I must admit that this person is totally unpleasant to me”.

Valyantsin Akudovitch, philosopher: “At present moment it would be very hard for me to do that. During the years of our confrontation the extremely negative attitude to this person has accumulated in my soul. All those years he has humiliated and disgraced the things that are so dear and valuable to me. I see, that he is head of my state and I must treat him as the head but I can’t help it. I can’t exclude the case when I could shake hands with him at a certain official meeting or reception, in case it might happen, but, nevertheless, I would do my best for this meeting never to happen”.

Zmitser Vaityushkevich, musician: “I would shake his hand when saying good-buy to him”.

Maksim Zhbankou, cultural scientist: “It depends on the context. Now I would unlikely do this, but if he had responded to Milinkevich’s letter I would have done several steps towards him if he denied his monopoly on the destiny of the country then I would not exclude the possibility.”

Uladzimir Kolas, director of the closed Belarusian lyceum: ”If any good deal benefited from that maybe, I would shake his hand. But I strongly doubt the possibility, because all attempts of the opposition to move towards the authorities are in vain”.

Piotr Martsau, publisher: “In the direct context, certainly, I would shake his hand at a reception. In the metaphorical context, I would have done this, in case Lukashenka moved towards us by changing the domestic and foreign policy of the country, by transforming the economy. Otherwise it is meaningless”.

Piotr Sadousky, former ambassador of Belarus to Germany: “Refusal to greet a person speaks of a definite complex. You should be sorry for your enemies and forgive them. I am sincere here though I am not a perfect Christian. I wish happiness even to those who reported me to the authorities. Coming closer to the subject I must admit that being older than Lukashenko I should be the first to give my hand to him for shaking .You should not accumulate insults of your enemies as well as of your friends. Everyone will answer for his crimes before the court both on earth and on the Heavens”.

Ales Tsyrkunou, artist: “It’s a joke, isn’t it? Why should I shake hands with a person who has disgraced all the national values? Never and on no condition, as you should never shake hands with a dragoon”.

Ales Ryazanau, poet: “There are a lot of places, which Lukashenka have entered and have quitted during his presidency. It is not enough that he should come and celebrate the Day of Freedom; it is necessary that he should join this Freedom, our Belarus together with us. Only in this case he will deserve shaking hands with. I mean, shaking his both hands because when you shake only one hand you never know what his other hand will do’.