Statkevich calls on Lukashenka to come to Square

Former political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich called on Lukashenka to come to the square to meet with his voters and answer their questions.

He said it at a join press conference involving Uladzimir Niakliaeu, Anatol Liabedzka and Pavel Seviarynets, Radio Svaboda reports.

“I wasn't here, and I have many questions. And now we have a kind of 'elections'. I'd like to ask a kind of the president, who is now a candidate where he has led us into and what he proposes. Let him explain. As a voter, I have the right to electoral assemblies to ask a candidate about his programme and plans. So, we need to address him and invite him to a meeting with us. I am ready to organise this meeting for him in Minsk, on the Square. Don't take many security guards. Nothing will happen to you, I guarantee it. If this man doesn't come, okay, we'll discuss what he has done without him. If he sends men with batons instead of him, well, we will receive the answer what he is going to do next,” the former political prisoner said.

Statkevich called on society not to fear talks about the Square:

“People are just afraid of the word 'Square'. Guys, are you afraid of the word? No one says about October 11. Nobody is interested in this date. We are speaking about a meeting with voters. If you fear everything... The more you fear, the more you lose. If Lukashenka has found himself in such a difficult financial situation, if he wants legitimacy so much, let's use it and regain little space for us.”

Statkevich answered to the accusations that politicians had led people to the Square and in fact framed they in 2010.

“The talks that stupid puppets were lured into the Square and framed... If we follow this logic, we'll see that our entire history is based on it. We had Konstanty Ostrogski, who lured 30,000 people into a battle against 80,000 people. They were lucky. He didn't became another Father Gapon, unlike Kalinouski, who lured people armed with sabres and scythes against the then biggest army in the world and framed them so that they were beaten. Do you really take it in this way? People know what expects them. They do what they will never be ashamed of. And now some try to make them like like fools! Statkevich lured them and framed... Do not insult your people, the best representatives of the nation. They didn't care who was the candidate. They took to streets to respect themselves. People always take to streets to defend their interests, not because someone promised them something,” the former presidential candidate said.