Protests in Belarus – Opposition: “Lukashenko will stay three days to pack his bags” – News

The ultimatum against Alexander Lukashenko expired at midnight from Sunday to Monday. The country’s best-known opposition activist, Svetlana Tichanovskaya, demanded that Belarusian rulers release all political prisoners, end the violence and resign.

Since Alexander Lukashenko did not respond to a demand, Tichanovskaya has today called a national strike. SRF was able to conduct an interview with the spokeswoman for the leader of the opposition, Anna Krasulina.

Anna Krasulina

Spokesperson for opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya

Open the person boxClose the person box

Anna Krasulina and Svetlana Tichanovskaya were forced to leave Belarus a few days after the presidential elections in August.

SRF: It seemed foreseeable that Lukashenko would not respond to your demands and would not resign. Why did you still issue an ultimatum?

Anna Krasulina: The ultimatum is an acceleration of events, which in their course can only lead to a logical end: to the victory of the democratic movement of all the people. The deadline is necessary to speed up the transfer of power, which could be extended by another three or five months.

In your opinion, why is the strike a way out of the political impasse in the country?

First, yesterday it was clearly demonstrated that a large number of people were demonstrating. Second, the strike is actually affecting the economy very badly. If all economic production across the country comes to a halt today, which we very much hope, Lukashenko will have two or three days to pack up and resign.

What will you do if the strike is unsuccessful? What will happen to the role of Svetlana Tichanovskaya as leader of the opposition?

We are well aware that today’s strike may not be very big. The situation is very difficult, especially in the regions of the country. Not everyone can participate in the strike. After more than 20 years of dictatorship, we are trying to gradually change the internal political situation in the country. Even if we fail the first time, we will succeed the second or third time. We are convinced that our victory is inevitable.

They also issued an ultimatum to the security forces. So far these have been loyal to Lukashenko. Why should they switch sides now?

Lukashenko used to have money to pay high salaries to his security apparatus, now he has no money for it. Our strike, the total cessation of work in the capital and regions of the country, in the larger companies such as “Belaruskali” and “Grodno Azot”, will mean that you will have even less money for your special forces. Can you imagine what happens when you can no longer afford your special units?

Are you not afraid that Lukashenko will receive help from Russia in this situation?

Putin does not love Lukashenko very much. When Lukashenko was still campaigning for Russian interests in Belarus, Putin supported his power. But now Lukashenko lacks the means to do so. Even if he wanted to, he could not safeguard Russian interests in Belarus.

Putin made a big mistake when he bet on Lukashenko. That he did not understand that none of the protesters received money to demonstrate, but that it was the will of the people. If Putin had understood this, the situation would be different today. He would have negotiated with the people of Belarus, even against their will. Because there are simply no alternatives.

The interview was conducted by Luzia Tschirky.