Franak Viacorka Screenshot from Youtube
“The West should make Belarus its ally in this senseless war. The country does not want to take part in the conflict, and if we get support, there may be an opportunity to weaken Lukashenko. Europe is our goal and today EU leaders could make an explicit appeal to our people to make trouble for the dictator and isolate it even more ».
Franak Viacorka is the first adviser to Svetlána Tichanóvskaja, leader of the Minsk strongman opposition, who was forced into exile in Lithuania after voting in the 2020 presidential election and denouncing the regime’s frauds. The son of a politician, journalist and activist, Viacorka, 34, also studied in the US and was arrested several times before leaving the country. Thanks to his network of contacts, he filters out everything that the cautious and repressive Belarusian government is trying to silence. However, many circumstances cannot be verified.
How is the situation in Minsk these weeks of war?
“There is a military mobilization in the country that also affects the population. People are afraid of the possibility of entering the conflict. Belarus has maintained conscripts and conscripts are treated as mere “arms bearers” with no rights, respect or salary. But the majority of young people feel that they must not engage in a senseless war. There are defections to Georgia and Turkey, not only of soldiers but also of officers.
Do you think Ukraine’s military intervention alongside Russian troops in Ukraine is likely?
“It’s possible, but it’s hard to predict. Putin would like him, maybe even Lukashenko, but the army is demoralized. We are sister countries of Ukraine, people don’t want to share this crime. The population is very scared, in the south you can hear the noise of war, but for now we are spectators. In a sense, as Moscow’s close and loyal allies (at the regime level, editor’s note), we are both aggressors and victims. Unofficial polls say only 3% of citizens support direct intervention, contrary to what is happening among Russians. Perhaps Lukashenko is afraid of losing what little consensus he has left. Obviously the resistance to the war is silent, we are in a totalitarian state, there are no mass demonstrations. However, some volunteers formed a brigade called Kastus Kalinouski (Belarusian writer and revolutionary, proponent of creating an independent federation between Lithuania, Belarus and Poland, led the “January Uprising” in 1863; captured by the Russians, was hanged in Vilnius, ed . ed.), who joined the Kiev armed forces. Putin wants to annihilate Ukraine if he can, for us Belarusians the possibilities of freedom and autonomy will shrink more and more».
Is it true that many wounded Russian soldiers are secretly taken to Belarusian hospitals?
“Yes, this is news that has been confirmed by several reliable sources. Doctors are forced to sign forms pledging confidentiality. Numerous soldiers of the hundreds arriving die on the station. Some are buried directly in Belarus. It is known, but no longer said. Everything is wrapped in a spiral of silence ».
How is the internal opposition moving at this delicate moment?
“This could be the last war for Lukashenko, the final moment of his parable, so it’s happening for Putin too. Like a gambler, the Russian President put all his chips into the Ukrainian game. That’s why Lukashenko hesitates, he doesn’t want to be a loser. Hence the enormous opportunity for the West, which must not treat Minsk like Moscow. The EU chancellery could send a clear message: we are on the side of the Belarusian people, we trust in you, you are also Europe, moments of unity and prosperity will come ».
Are there concrete actions by the opposition against the current government?
Attempts are being made to promote a widespread and transversal movement against the war. Samizdat is circulating to counter Russian war propaganda. The unions are trying to organize a strike. There are secret mobilization plans to put pressure on the regime. But also acts of disobedience and sabotage. A train carrying food to Russian soldiers in Ukraine was stopped by a hacking attack by “cyber partisans” and the delivery was not made ».
Lukashenko has also created a humanitarian crisis at Europe’s borders by tricking poor exiles from the Asian wars into crossing the border…
«Here we understand that Lukashenko is a threat to the EU. It represses, it imposes mass terror. He used the lives of these refugees in an unfair and inhuman way for his political games against Poland and Lithuania. We strongly condemn this operation. Currently, most refugees have returned to their country or are safe. The crisis was resolved thanks to the West. Again, do not forget about the Belarusian people. Our goal is peace».