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“We do not have the capacity to combat regime violence against protesters,” he said.
“They have weapons, they have strength, so yeah, right now it looks like we’ve lost the streets,” Cichanouskaya told Le Temps. “The return to democracy will take longer than planned.”
Belarus has been embroiled in massive protests for several months against the results of the presidential elections on August 9, which were won by authoritarian President Lukashenko, who has led the country since 1994.
Her opponents say the election was rigged and that the real winner is political rookie S. Cichanouskaya, who is running for her jailed husband.
However, Belarusian security forces cracked down on the protesters, detaining them and forcing opposition leaders to leave the country.
No quick fixes
“In Belarus, people want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, to think about the day when everything will be fine. As they hope for a quick solution, now they expect a fantastic plan … But there is no such plan,” Cichanouskaya told Le Temps.
He urged Belarusians to build structures for “tomorrow’s struggles”, despite feelings of fatigue and fear.
“Our strategy is to be better organized, to put constant pressure on the regime until people are ready to go back to the streets, perhaps in the spring,” Chichanouskaya said.
However, he stressed that this must be a peaceful revolution, adding that he does not believe he can ask Belarusians to put themselves in danger.
S.Cichanouskaja, who is currently based in Lithuania, will travel to Switzerland in March, if restrictions related to the pandemic allow.
There, he hopes to meet with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to discuss ways to “restore justice” in his country.
Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in December, Mr. Bachelet condemned the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus.
It was based on reports that more than 27,000 people had been arrested in the country since the August 9 elections. people, including older people involved in peaceful protests.
The situation in Belarus will be discussed during the session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will begin on Thursday, and the Bachelet report on the country will be presented.
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