Pavel Yukhnevich: Time To Take Responsibility For Our Country
- 1.11.2019, 15:33
Belarusians are a great nation with centuries-old traditions of the struggle for their freedom.
The speech of parliamentary candidate in the Pushkinski electoral district # 103 Pavel Yukhnevich was not broadcasted on TV or radio. The official media were afraid to give even 5 minutes of time to the activist of the European Belarus.
The press-center of the European Belarus civil campaign provides an opportunity to read and see a speech banned by the authorities.
- Dear friends,
My name is Pavel Yukhnevich. I represent the team of the European Belarus civil campaign, and I am a parliamentary candidate in the Pushkinski electoral district #103. I am running at these “elections” to convey our position to you.
I am 35 years old, and most of my life I lived in Belarus under Lukashenka. I saw how in our country the legitimate parliament was dispersed, national symbols were destroyed, people were deprived of the opportunity to work normally and earn money, patriots were killed and thrown behind bars, and the right to choose was taken away from us. Even in this campaign, the election commissions denied registration to my friends, activists of the European Belarus, namely, journalist Iryna Khalip, Andrei Voynich, Maksim Viniarski, Vasil Zhorau.
It all started 25 years ago when we elected the person for whom Belarus is not home, as president. “I will not lead my people after the civilized world,” he said then. And he led us back to the Soviet past, to Russia. We see the logical result of this now. Belarus has lost almost all the attributes of an independent state. In the world we are not perceived as an independent player.
Russian troops and military bases remain on our territory. Our foreign policy is subordinate to the Kremlin. Due to the short-sighted actions of the authorities, we are in financial bondage with Russia and China, so each of us already owes them more than 5 thousand dollars. Companies that have remained afloat are sold to Russian oligarchs.
The logical ending of this path is the elimination of even the formal independence that we have now.
Several times we tried to turn off this path. Belarusians heroically fought for independence, took to thousands of marches in the late 90s, gathered in the squares to protest against the election fraud, stood against the surrender of the country's sovereignty.
We have done a lot. But the threat of losing independence is now greater than ever. All this year, we regularly received information about certain negotiations, the price of which is the country's independence - about in-depth integration, about the unification of financial systems, about the strengthening of military cooperation.
Moreover, the Astravets NPP is now being built on our territory. This is a Russian strategic military facility. Belarusian experts have repeatedly said that there are better places to build it, there are more modern, and safer projects.
The NPP is being built by the Russian specialists, it is located near the border with the EU. Almost every day, information is received about accidents and violations at the construction site. Well, you know how they build in Russia - half will be stolen, and the rest goes with the expectation, maybe it will endure, maybe it will work.
The price of the Russian “maybe” in Belarus is the life of ourselves and our children. We know well enough what Chernobyl and its consequences are. The question here is not about maintaining independence, but about the survival of the Belarusian people.
The nuclear power plant in Astravets should be closed.
The solution to all key problems is simple - a change of power at all levels. The fate of Belarus should be decided by patriots.
I would like to say a few words to young Belarusians. It's time to take responsibility for the country! Nobody but us needs a strong and free Belarus. We are a great nation with centuries-old traditions of the struggle for our freedom. We challenged the world's strongest empire. We survived, despite 300 years of occupation - there are few several examples in the world history.
You know, I have two wonderful daughters, Eva and Adelia. I do not want them to live under a dictatorship for another 25 years. I want them to live not in some nuclear burial ground, or the Russian province. I want them to live in a free and strong Belarus. In a European Belarus. And I know that we can build it together with you.