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In an interview with BNS, S. Cichanouskaja confirmed that he had offered the Lithuanian authorities to review the traffic conditions if Belaruskalij continued to repress the workers for political reasons.
Belaruskalij uses the Lithuanian railways and the Klaipeda port to export its products. The Norwegian company Yara recently warned that it could restrict the purchase of fertilizers from Belaruskalij due to the crackdown.
Speaking about the Astrava nuclear power plant, S.Cichanouskaja stated that a safety inspection of the power plant is necessary in accordance with international standards, and the new Belarusian government will have to discuss further activities with Lithuania and other stakeholders. .
S.Cichanouskaja also spoke about the changes in the tactics of Belarusian democracy activists during the winter months, the change in attitude of Belarusians towards Russia and the influence of the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on Belarusian identity and the future relations with Lithuania.
– The new Lithuanian government will soon be sworn in. What support do you expect from him?
– I hope the same as up to now, because Lithuania strongly supports the people of Belarus. It has been, is and certainly will be. The new government will show the same solidarity as the outgoing one: it will defend human rights in Belarus, it will help the people who had to leave Belarus. We are very grateful for the strong position.
– In a recent interview with colleagues from the LRT, you spoke in favor of sanctions against Belaruskalij. Perhaps you can specify what penalties you expect?
– Belaruskalij is one of the state companies, which is like Lukashenko’s pocket. Its staff are being fired because of their civic stance, so we started talking about sanctions against Belaruskalij.
We start first with conditional penalties. We first contacted (Norwegian company) Yara. They set the conditions: if you lay off workers, we will stop buying your products. But layoffs continue and penalties must be toughened.
“Scanpix” / AP nuotr./Sviatlana Cichanouskaja
Stop buying Belaruskalij products so that money from these companies does not flow into the Lukashenko regime. This concerns not only Belaruskalij, but also Grodno Azot, Naftan and other companies that are important to the regime. But we are not talking about a suspension for centuries: with the arrival of a new president or a period of transition, all ties must be resumed.
– Have you discussed this with the representatives of the Lithuanian government? This is an economic problem, because Belaruskalij uses the port of Klaipeda.
– Yes, we talk, but the opinions of politicians differ. We have raised the question of increasing the price of transit, linking it to conditions: if you lay off people, increase prices or stop transit. To comply with the conditions, if you do not comply with them, we impose additional restrictions.
– Lithuanians are concerned about the Astrava nuclear power plant. Should the new democratic government of Belarus shut down the power plant due to security and good neighborly relations with Lithuania?
– I have no doubt that this will be discussed. First of all, the safety of the power plant should be checked according to international standards. As far as I know, there have been no studies from such international organizations, so we don’t know how this power plant works. We have heard about the incidents, the Belarusian government explains that the power outage was planned, but we do not know what is actually happening.
You know, our two states, as well as other stakeholders, will find a consensus on this. But first, the research must be done by international organizations.
– Vilnius became the center of the Belarusian dissidents. One reason is geography, but the other is probably history. Has the common historical heritage recently become more important to you personally and to Belarusians as a nation building its own identity?
– Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, it is obvious that the key word here is “Lithuania”. So we have a common story and much more in common than we thought so far.
For 26 years, due to Lukashenko’s policy, we have been closer to Russia and Ukraine, and we did not have close relations with Lithuania and Poland. But in the future, I am sure that our Government will be a friend to all countries. Lithuania will undoubtedly be among the priorities of the new Government. We will rebuild the relationship because we have a lot in common.
– You have said many times that the Belarusian revolution is neither anti-Russian nor anti-European, that it is a democratic revolution. Could a new democratic Belarus maintain good relations with autocratic Russia? Do you see at least one of those examples in the post-Soviet space?
– I am sure that the future President of Belarus and the future Government will try to establish good relations with all countries, all neighbors. I have no doubt that we can be friends with Russia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.
I am not sure I can find examples, but I have no doubt that the new Government will find ways to build good relations with Russia. We will have to do it because we are neighbors, with strong commercial ties between us. But the same goes for western countries, he will try to befriend everyone.
– Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Russian government seems to refuse to communicate with you until now. The Russian media is increasingly announcing that you are financed by the West, saying that the protests are coordinated from the West, from Lithuania and Poland. What can you answer to this and who finances your activities?
– It is true that we had no official contact with Russia. We keep repeating that we are open to this dialogue. Russia has supported Mr. Lukashenko, it has not supported the people of Belarus, and indeed the people of Belarus are angry. Until recently, 60 percent. people welcomed Russia, now that number has drastically decreased.
As for the accusations, the propaganda works, it repeats what the Belarusian propaganda says. It is not necessary to listen to the speeches of the regime, because at first it said that the revolution was financed by Russia, then it began to speak of Lithuania, Poland and other countries.
This revolution came from below, it was not financed by anyone. Now there are different foundations that we ask to help Belarusian civil society because people are being laid off, people have to print newspapers, etc. At first, however, it was only an initiative of the people themselves. Nobody paid anyone anything, in the end it is impossible to pay 300 thousand. people every weekend.
People who do not use the Internet and only watch television are hit on the head saying that the West pays people. But is not. The revolution expresses the true will of the people.
„Reuters“ / „Scanpix“ nuotr./Sviatlana Cichanouskaja
– What is your strategy now to force Mr. Lukashenko to resign?
– Our strategy has not changed. It is a peaceful revolution. First the pressure on the regime, then the negotiations and new elections. We are in the first stage of pressure, pressure both inside and outside the country.
Many have noticed a decrease in the number of people on the streets. But we have to understand that many activists are being jailed, the weather is cold, people are tired, but they keep coming out.
I believe that the underground revolution will flourish during the winter. This will make the regime very problematic because they will have nothing to put in the prisons, there will be flags, protest posters everywhere and they will not be able to find anything.
Now we are also waiting for the third package of EU sanctions, it is very important how many people will participate or if economic sanctions will be imposed. Economic sanctions are very effective in the fight for a democratic Belarus.
– What are your expectations about which companies should be on the EU sanctions list?
– I cannot name specific companies. It is up to the EU to decide which companies, businesses or people will be on the list, and no one can influence it.
– How do you assess the rumors that Lukashenko will retire after the constitutional reform?
– First, he cannot change the Constitution, because he is not a legitimate president. Second, all this game about the Constitution is simply to buy time for himself to say that he is doing something for democracy, but this is all a lie because he has never done anything for the people of Belarus.
We don’t know what he wants to change, he hasn’t discussed it with anyone. People do not know what is going through their mind. How can the Constitution change when the people don’t accept it?
Amendments to the constitution are necessary, but must be presented during or shortly after the election. Amendments are needed, but not to Mr Lukashenko.
– Next week he will receive the prestigious Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament. What message will you send to the EU this time?
– This award is given to freedom of thought and human rights. We are grateful that the whole world has noticed the struggle of the Belarusian people, we have become an example of peaceful struggle and an inspiration to others.
The award is given not only to the named persons, but to all the people of Belarus, because everyone has contributed to this fight. If someone speaks in the international arena, like me, or someone painted a white, red and white flag on the pavement. Both this and that are important to the revolution.
People’s perceptions have changed, now people no longer want to be held captive by thoughts. I believe that the people of Belarus deserve this award, it is an honor for us to receive it.
– Let’s go from Brussels to Washington. What would you like the Joe Biden administration to do differently than the Donald Trump administration in Belarus?
– Before the elections, Mr. Biden issued a very strong statement that he would help Belarusians in their fight for independence. I am sure he will keep his word. The United States is an influential state, I have no doubt that it will help our revolution, although now we do not know exactly how, because we cannot have contacts until he is officially president of the United States.
I am sure that it can influence not the situation in Belarus, but the understanding of the problem of Belarus in the world, and help Canada, the EU and the US to speak with one voice. This would benefit the suffering people in our country.
– My last question, how personal. How are your husband and children doing?
– Thank God, my children are in Lithuania, they are safe and everything is fine for them. Their childhood is normal here, they go to school, to kindergarten. My husband in prison, communicating through a lawyer who visits him twice a week, is interested in how we are doing and what is happening in Belarus. He understands that he has been in prison for six months with nothing, like 160 other political prisoners, and that number is only growing. Everyone hopes that, with the help of Europe, things will end soon.
The conditions in our prisons are terrible, the treatment of political prisoners is not good because they have dared to think differently and begin to fight for their rights. We and all countries must do everything possible so that these people are released so that no dictator remains in our country and so that new relations of equality can be established with Belarus. I think we have a lot to offer the world in the future.
– Thank you for the interview.
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