Stanislav Shushkevich: I Am Optimistic. We Are on the Threshold of Change
- 15.12.2021, 20:37
The first head of independent Belarus told why he was sure of that.
Radio Svaboda asked famous Belarusians to answer the question: what made you happy/still smiling in 2021?
Stanislav Shushkevich, who turns 87 years old today, answers the journalists' question.
- I am excited about our doctors, medical professionals. They are working selflessly in extremely hard conditions, in the conditions of a pandemic. I had to be in hospitals, and my wife was often in the polyclinic. All day long, medical professionals wear masks and "suits". It is difficult to find such devoted people.
Covid is a common problem. We could have fought it better, but the government wanted to "fight" it with a tractor and sports. Under the current conditions, the doctors observe the Hippocratic oath sacredly. Belarus can be proud of its doctors.
Secondly, there have appeared leaders in Belarus. They are not useless, like our main "managers" and do not work by the principle "I am the boss, you are a fool"...
Such leaders must appear in Belarus - competent, reasonable, with a well-grounded position and political conscience...
I am glad that we have writers who are dealing with historical problems. I am a friend of them. They send me their new books, works and researches in electronic form. They write a lot, well, and fascinatingly. I want to keep reading. They know our history. I am amazed that it is possible to present the history of Belarus as a work of fiction! But I cannot name their surnames publicly as they may have problems.
Unfortunately, our state relies on the principle of state terrorism. The UN Declaration on State Terrorism of 1987 explains it all. Now we have it in its purest form. But it was the same in the Soviet Union - fear ruled there too. But it will not rule here for long because it is no longer possible. If Amnesty International has recognized almost one thousand Belarusians as political prisoners, what kind of state is it? This is a bandit country and a primitive leadership! It is militant ignorance. And it starts with our illegitimate ruler.
Our rulers are addicted to drugs. Power is a drug for them. Notice, an American leader can be president for 2922 days. And not one day more. Lukashenka stays in power 3.5 times longer! And what good has he done? Belarus is in last place in Europe by main indicators. It cannot go on for long. People see how Poles live, how Lithuanians live. It's a completely different life. And it won't last like that in Belarus.
Unfortunately, I can't participate in things I'd like to do anymore. I've already surpassed the average age of a Belarusian: I'm 87.
I have got invitations to Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, Oxford with hybrid lectures, trips. I could not go to Vienna. I was not feeling well.
But I am optimistic. I believe our young people should live in normal, bright, dignified and democratic Belarus. They, I think, are worthy of it. And they are following this way.