Events

MINSK, 26 March (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has granted an interview to the Ukrainian TV show Shuster Live, BelTA has learned.

The statements made by the Belarus president for mass media on 23 March have met a strong interest in Ukraine. The opinion and stance of the Belarusian head of state with regard to the situation in the neighboring country has made him a key figure in the media sphere.

Savik Shuster, the author and a host of one of the most popular, democratic, and freedom-loving Ukrainian TV shows Shuster Live, asked Alexander Lukashenko to answer several topical albeit not always pleasant questions. Some of the questions were not new for Alexander Lukashenko, nevertheless, he spoke his mind for the people of Ukraine.

Among other things the interview touched upon the responsibility of a head of state for the fate of the country and the people. “As far as Yanukovych is concerned, he is no president for me. In his latest speech he said he is alive and well and he is the commander in chief of the armed forces. Let me ask you one question: where is his army?” said Alexander Lukashenko.

“A president has to be with his or her nation however hard it may be. Even if you are shot tomorrow, it is your destiny. You are supposed to make such sacrifices. There is no other way. One day he sits in his residence, reveling in his power, the next day when things go south, he flees? That’s no way to behave for a nation’s leader,” stressed the Belarus President.

Therefore, it is impossible to argue against the statements made in the Ukrainian parliament saying that president Yanukovych has removed himself from his office, said the Belarusian head of state.

“I don’t want everyone to think that Lukashenko is a turncoat since he was a friend of Yanukovych’s and now talks like that. I criticize him as a friend. Understand me any way you want. Presidents should not act like that,” Alexander Lukashenko was convinced. “If you have no army, get a gun and go alone. You may be killed… So? We all will be dead sooner or later. But neither your friends nor your relatives nor your sons will be ashamed of you. It is my stance”.

The interview with the Belarus president will be aired by the Ukraine One TV channel as part of the Shuster Live show at 19:30 Kyiv time on Friday, 28 March.