Events
Lukashenko: It would have been illegal to reschedule the presidential election in Belarus in 2020
MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – It would have been dishonorable and illegal to reschedule the presidential election in Belarus in 2020. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during a meeting with representatives of the general public, experts, and mass media titled as the Big Conversation with the President on 9 August, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted he truly had not paid much attention to campaigning due to different priorities back then – it was necessary to focus on treating people suffering from the coronavirus and on saving people’s lives. In his words, the situation was properly reflected in a recently televised five-episode documentary titled as 2020.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: “I didn’t remove myself. I didn’t have time for it. I had to protect people, save them.” Back then unlike other countries Belarus did not close its borders, did not introduce a curfew although not only foreign politicians but specialists of the World Health Organization demanded it. And they were invited to come to Belarus and personally evaluate the situation.
The president reminded that Belarus was the only country to do it and granted access to healthcare institutions to WHO specialists. As a result of the visit WHO specialists unofficially admitted that it is necessary to spread the word in the West about how medical aid in Belarus is organized in response to those who criticize Aleksandr Lukashenko because the level of treatment and safety in fighting COVID-19 in Belarus was unprecedented. “We rejected the idea of a lockdown. We were beaten, criticized in every possible way by everyone,” the Belarusian leader reminded. “Do you want to know what the difference is? Dear friends, attitude to the people is the difference. ‘The dictator’ set proper tasks before the authorities and decently treated people, I am sorry for immodesty, it is no PR.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “The foundation of what happened in economy in the first half of the year was established back then. We didn’t halt the economy. We didn’t keep people indoors. We worked out a clear approach to people’s treatment – out-patient, in-patient, and sanatorium stages. Can you name any rich country, which followed this way? It cost a lot of money. But people are more precious.”
The head of state pointed out that the possibility of rescheduling the presidential election was widely debated in 2020 and the society would have applauded such a move. “It was necessary to put off the election. But even if there had been grounds for it [and there were], it would not have been totally decent and it would have been illegal,” the Belarusian leader stated. “You – representatives of Western mass media, who are present here – and particularly crazy politicians would have mopped the floor with me.”
Speaking about events after the presidential election, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted it was not the first time Belarus had faced protests after an election. Protests after election campaigns had happened before. “Back then these protests would flame up for a day or two and would die down then. We didn’t eliminate them (we certainly counteracted them because we needed order in Minsk), this time the protests were lengthier because preparations and the foundation were lengthier,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “Crazy people all over the world are the only foundation for these protests. Mass media played into their hands, scaring people. We followed our own path. Naturally a lot of people in Belarus (I dare say, the majority) initially thought little of what the president was doing. The world does that and we do this. But I was adamant and demanded the same from the others.”
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