Aliaksei Janukevich: Russian imperialism is a common enemy of Belarusan and Ukrainian independence

Minsk state executive committee approved a rally and a demonstration timed to the Freedom Day, on which the anniversary of the creation of the Belarusian People's Republic (BPR) is commemorated.

The demonstration was organized by Aliaksei Janukevich, the chairman of the BPF Party, Anatol Sidarevich, the member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Assembly) general committee, Ales Lahvinets, deputy chairman of the Movement “For Freedom”.

The celebration will be held under such slogans as the protection of independence of Belarus, solidarity with Ukraine in situation of Russian military intervention to Crimea, the release of political prisoners.

Aliaksei Janukevich, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) and one of the organizers of the demonstration, told EuroBelarus Information Service about the peculiarities of this year’s Freedom Day.

- The organizers of the rally requested the Independence Avenue for the event, but they were traditionally allowed to hold demonstration only at Banhalor Square. What were you hoping at when you made this request?

- Taking into account the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war we wanted to see: perhaps the authorities put the need for people’s consolidation before pressure on the opposition. However, since the beginning we were skeptical about that, so we warned people that the announced format of the demonstration is hardly feasible.

- The slogans at the Freedom Day this year are solidarity with Ukraine in situation of Russian military intervention to Crimea. However, the regime has basically recognized the right of Russia for Crimea, and will take the side of Russia in controversial situations. How can Belarusans demonstrate their solidarity counter to the regime?

- Indeed, I regret to say that Lukashenka’s statements on March 23 demonstrate that he supports Russia’s actions. But I wouldn’t say that Lukashenka recognizes Russia’s right to Crimea; he said that de-facto Crimea belongs to Russia, but to avoid worsening of relations with Ukraine, he didn’t say whether it belongs legally or not. However, it didn’t help: on March 24 Ukraine recalled its Ambassador from Minsk.

It is hard to show solidarity with Ukrainian people when democratic activists are fined and arrested for solidarity. But still, Freedom Day is an authorized event, which gives opportunity to show that most Belarusans support Ukrainian people. Russian imperialism is a common enemy of Belarusan and Ukrainian independence. If imperial Russia had occupied Crimea openly, for Belarus this danger is hidden.

We were discussing the problem of Russia's military presence at the Belarusan territory during the local election, and we will address this issue after the Freedom Day.

- With the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war it is obvious that Belarus is losing its independence and is gradually turning into a Russian place of arms. Will Freedom Day react on the danger of Russian annexation?

 - Each Freedom Day we keep saying that we are to stop playing with the “union state”, Customs Union and all integration unions where Russia domineers: it is extremely dangerous for Belarusan sovereignty and our independence. This year the threat will also be reflected at Freedom Day.

Russian economy, Russian media are domineering in Belarus. And the latter openly spread outrageous lies about the Ukrainian events and manipulate not only Russians and Ukrainians, but also Belarusans.

Russian military bases are located in Belarus. The danger of losing our sovereignty is extremely high, and the dependence of Belarus from Russia has reached critical point. One of the main goals of Freedom Day is to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine, with Ukrainian people. However, it is the necessity to preserve our independence and sovereignty, the need of European integration and withdrawal from all the integration unions with Russia’s domineering that are high on the agenda at Freedom Day this year.