In Warsaw Ramanchuk had to account for treachery

• 23.03.2011, 13:33

Yaraslau Ramanchuk, an economist, had to listen to harsh criticism against him at the conference “How to Democratize Belarus?” in Warsaw.

We remind that the event was organized by the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs (PISM) and the British Embassy in Poland.

Artur Popok, a former activist of the headquarters of the presidential candidate Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and a driver of the car attacked by the unknown on December 19 in Minsk, tried to disrupt the speech by Ramanchuk. Before the beginning of the conference he handed out leaflets in English with harsh criticism of Ramanchuk’s actions after the election to the audience. As is known, on December 20 in the morning Ramanchuk read out a statement with defamation of other oppositional candidates, as well as journalist Iryna Khalip, who had been arrested at that moment already. During the speech of Ramanchuk, Papok came up to him and said a word in English trying to shame him, the European Radio for Belarus informs.

Zmitser Barodka, a member of the election headquarters of the ex-presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, asked Ramanchuk whether “he has conscience at all.” Yaraslau Ramanchuk told that he has conscience, that he “had not deceived anyone.” “And if I am to choose between lives of people and a political career, I have chosen the former,” Ramanchuk said.

This happened during a discussion on political and economic situation in Belarus. Those present, including foreigners, met the incident composedly.