Opinions: “There wasn’t much pushing aggression any more. Lukashenka talked much about health” :: Charter'97 :: News

Yesterday Alyaksandr Lukashenka held a press-conference for top executives of Belarusian mass media. The leader of the state has made any loud statements addressed to Russia, the EU, opposition, his personal vertical of power. Radio Svaboda has asked participants of the press-conference. What’s new have they heard from Alyaksandr Lukashenka, have they received answers to their questions?

V. Khadasouski: “It seems to me that some new characteristics of Lukashenka have become apparent there”.

These are the words of the editor-in-chief of “Belarusy i Rynok” Vyachaslau Khadasouski:

“It seems to us that a more harsh position concerning Russia had been expressed, though later it was watered down. We turned attention to the words about possible presidency in Russia, about participation in political life. A rather speaking emphasis has been made by him.

And as for the words about his health. It has been said several times that Alyaksandr Lukashenka to remain the president in the near future.

There was another sensation, the words that such meetings could be done more frequent and regular. It seems to me that that some new characteristics of Lukashenka have become apparent there. At least, there wasn’t such pushing aggression.

There was an attempt, though not very consistent, to explain and to answer questions asked. It wasn’t observed earlier. It has been said that authority bodies should be more transparent. Allegedly this openness would be later presented as a sign of democratic dynamics in the country”.

J. Syaredzich: “There hasn’t been any concrete answer, I think”.

The editor-in-chief of the “Narodnaya Volya” Josif Syaredzich was asking questions to Lukashenka actively. Has he received satisfactory answers? He says:

“There hasn’t been any concrete answer, I think. But assignments have been given to his services. We shall have negotiations. Later I came to Information Minister and Pralyaskouski, we shall have a conversation next week. Nobody can say now, what would happen in three minutes.

My task was to raise questions, and I have raised questions. And we’ll see how the problem would be solved”.

It seems to me that he had spoken about many things previously, about Belarusian-Russian officials, for instance. The only thing is that we have asked the question about independent mass media, and it was met without any hysterics. I consider that I have accomplished my mission,” the editor-in-chief said.

A.Lipaj: “It’s hard to say why he had gone there”

The head of a private news agency BelaPAN Ales Lipaj notes a sincere atmosphere at the press-conference:

“The atmosphere was rather sincere, which is usual for such events. Lukashenka answered all questions rather openly. Everybody who wanted could ask questions.

It is hard to say why he had done that. It is probable he wanted to get message across about his opinion on different questions, for instance, the question about a possibility of his participation in political struggle in Russia.

It seems to me that the situation with access of independent journalists to information could change eventually, as Lukashenka gave concrete assignments to check into the matter and report about that to him. Though it is hard to say”.

Photo by Dmitry Azarov, kommersant.ru