You currently work as the president of the Minsk Mises Centre. Could you
explain shortly what this institution does and what it stands for?
“Mises Centre is a think tank that promotes freedom in all aspects, but
primarily in economic policy and social policy. We study how freedom influences
social and economic standards. We advocate an expansion of democratic and
liberal reforms. Unlike the Netherlands, Belarus has never experienced being a
free country. Most of our citizens do not know what liberalism is really about.
Our opponents describe liberalism as an ideology which supports the welfare of
the rich and the powerful. We aim to spread the knowledge of Belarusian
citizens to fight against this image. We say that liberalism is about
transnational cooperation and fighting injustice. Furthermore, we introduce and
explain liberal solutions to today’s challenges: how to create jobs, how ensure
pensions, how stimulate business development, how ensure long-term economic
growth.”
What is for you the most important aspect of liberalism?
“For me, liberalism is the ideology for honest people that prefer hard
work. It is about innovation instead of stagnation. Furthermore, liberalism
provides peace, transnational cooperation and a fair global economic system.”
To what extent is liberalism a wide supported political ideology in Belarus?
“According to many Belarusians, all bad that happened in Ukraine and
Russia as for example nepotism, corruption and the absence of rule of law is
caused by their liberal and democratic shift after the dissolution of the
Soviet Union. However, we see a trend that more and more Belarusians are
accepting the increase of individualism and self-responsibility in the
Belarusian society. In addition, the Belarussian economic policy is not
enhancing economic growth, there is stagnation for 25 years. The business
community have lost their trust in the economy. The answer to all of this are
liberal reforms and that is also what I wanted to introduce in 2010, when I ran
for president.”
To what extent did you stand a chance at the presidential elections of 2010?
“I realised that no free and fair elections were held in Belarus since
1996. The main reason I took part in this election was that I wanted to spread
liberal ideas on social and economic policy. My campaign team and I tried to
target different social groups. We visited more than 50 cities in which I spoke
to many people about liberalism. This was the goal of our campaign. To explain
to the Belarusian people that liberalism is not about drugs and prostitution,
but mainly about their property and welfare. Anyway, Lukashenko felt
threatened, because in 2010 I went through psychological torture and I had to
make statements I did not wanted to make. To save lives. I for example had to
state that the riots were orchestrated by the opposition.”
Let us move to today’s situation. Do you believe the momentum will come
and that the Lukashenko regime will fall this year? If so, do you think that
there is a place for liberal values, as for example freedom of speech, in a
renewed Belarus?
“This is a unique moment in our nation’s history. We never had so many
people on the streets as in this year. There is just a huge amount of anger and
indignation which are a result of grave mistakes of Lukashenko and his regime.
Firstly, he arrested very popular opponents of him in May. Secondly, he
declared a win with 80% of the votes in the last elections, which was a
ridiculous high number nobody believed. Thirdly, many atrocities and tortures
occurred from the 9th tot the 11th of August. Furthermore,
The Belarusian people was even cut out of internet time by time, to prevent
them to post anything about the riots and protests in their country on social
media. Moreover, the head of the catholic church in Belarus was not allowed to
enter the country, this was outrageous. Even ordinary workers joint the
protests, because the Lukashenko’s regime went simply too far with violating
basic human rights. Hundreds of thousands of people are protesting against the
regime and their goal is to enforce more freedoms.”
What will be your own role if Belarus is renewed?
“I want to advice and support the future government creating an
institutional foundation for a liberal Belarus. Furthermore, I want to keep
explaining to the Belarusian citizens, why applying a liberal institutional
framework is the best choice for the well-being of their country. Additionally,
we need the help of foreign liberal to support Belarus in the next steps.
Especially, cooperation with the VVD is important, because your party knows
what it is to take governmental responsibility.”