Tsikhanouskaya on Babaryka and Kalesnikava: I don't see a problem if they develop their party
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented in an interview with Radio Svaboda on how she would perceive it if Viktar Babaryka and Maryia Kalesnikava were to create their own political force.
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“I think we all have the same goals: the liberation of people, the democratization of Belarus. Yes, sometimes tactics may differ, and that's normal. For someone, for example, the main and only task is just the liberation of people. But we, as politicians, must set broader goals: how to return home. How to prevent new hostages. How to return freedom to Belarusians. How to preserve Belarus' independence. And activity and cooperation should be built around these goals. I am sure we will find areas to cooperate, at a minimum, on the topic of freeing political prisoners,” Tsikhanouskaya says. —
And I don't see a problem if they develop their party, which they launched back in 2020. Of course, it's very difficult to do this in exile, especially when there is no secure connection with people inside the country.
Parties are needed because sooner or later there will be free elections — and we need political forces to be formed in our country, so people can vote for those they feel close to. My task is not to represent a specific party or a single separate force, but to be the voice of all Belarusians and all democratic forces. And the positions I represent are the positions of a broad coalition of organizations, parties, and structures. Our goal now is to achieve those very elections where everyone can compete for votes.”
Tsikhanouskaya added that they would soon meet with Kalesnikava.
“There are already some ideas of what we can do together. And I am very glad that she is free and energizes Belarusians with her tireless energy. Of course, I see that she needs time to recover, to get used to freedom, to take care of her health, and I hope that she will dedicate quite a lot of time to this.”
She also answered the question of whether a three-way meeting with Maryia Kalesnikava and Veranika Tsapkala was possible.
“Currently, each of us has our own personal path, and I don't know, I'm not sure about a physical meeting, because everyone is in different countries now, but I think we will do something together in some format,” said the democratic leader.
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Ха-ха. Ха-ха-ха. Не, ну рана ці позна і сонца згасне, але...