Leader of Belarusian Opposition Says “It seems we have lost”

The leader of the Belarusian opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, said in an interview with the Swiss newspaper “Le Tan” that the return of democracy to Belarus will require “a longer time” and “it seems now that we have lost.”

She explained in the interview, published Saturday, that she wants to visit Switzerland in March to ask the authorities to open an investigation into “the hidden assets and corruption schemes of Alexander Lukashenko” (the Belarusian president).

She stressed, “I have to admit that we lost the street battle and we have no way to deal with the regime’s violence against the demonstrators – they have weapons and power, and therefore yes it seems that we lost.” Tikhanovskaya’s husband was imprisoned in Belarus last year after he tried to run for the presidential elections.

“The return to democracy will take longer than expected,” she added. “In Belarus, citizens want to see the light at the end of the tunnel and think about the day when everything will be fine. And because they were betting on a quick solution, they are now waiting for a magic plan.” …) But such a plan does not exist. ”

The 38-year-old opposition, a mother of two, called on the people of Belarus to create structures for the “struggles of tomorrow” despite fatigue and fear.

“Our strategy is to organize our ranks better and continue to exert pressure on the regime until the individuals are ready again to take to the streets, perhaps in the spring,” she said.

She stated that she “cannot ask the people of Belarus to put themselves in danger” and defends the principle of “peaceful revolution”.

If restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic allow travel, Tikhanovskaya will travel to Switzerland in March.

She wants to meet with the Speaker of Parliament, “who visited Vilnius last fall to discuss the human rights file in Belarus.”

Tikhanovskaya, who is currently residing in Lithuania, wants to meet with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michel Bachelet, to discuss “tools that will restore justice” in her country.

On December 4, Bachelet told the UN Human Rights Council that the situation in Belarus was “deteriorating continuously”.

Next Thursday, this body will study the situation in Belarus, on the occasion of publishing a report by Bachelet.

The regime in Belarus has been suppressing an unprecedented protest movement since last year, following Lukashenko’s re-election in August. He has ruled the country since 1994.

source: a. f. B.