The conversation was sharp: Vorša representatives of opposition parties and movements fully support the idea of unification of democratic forces, but blamed the lack of consolidation of the leaders of the republican structures.
Meeting with opposition leaders Nikolai Statkevich and Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu was held at the local office of the United Civil Party. In a conversation with Minsk politicians came and members of the BPF and the Left Party "Fair World", and the participants of the "Tell the Truth" campaign, and supporters of the creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party.
Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu reminded goal congress of democratic forces, which will be held on May 15th. The first – to voice suggestions on how to bring the country out of a comprehensive crisis. After all, he said, the authorities demonstrate complete inability not to do it, but even to admit defeat. The second – to unite in the forthcoming elections, to offer them their candidates and demand that the electoral process was free and fair. Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu said that the congress will be held on the proposal of the Belarusian intelligentsia. And absolutely do not, in order to highlight the position of one of the main supporters of this idea Mikalai Statkevich.
According to Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, from the merger in the course of Congress refuse primarily those political forces that want to rule their own political, rather than constructive work together for a common goal – prosperity of the country.
Nikolai Statkevich remarked in his speech that "the Belarusians are waiting for the dramatic, and it is possible – and the bloody events. It ends the fundamental resources of the authorities – and the "eating away" of the Soviet legacy, and the period of "Russian dependency". Therefore, the question arises very acutely: who and where further lead Belarus", – said the leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party ("Narodnaja Hramada").
Statkevich noted that for the sake of the victory of democracy proponents of change always come together, that this, rather than another, the world experience. And in Belarus today disunited opposition and tired, incapable of productive work – and above all, because engaged in internal conflicts rather than to promote the movement for independence and democracy.
This conclusion has caused a number of issues have Vorša residents. For example, representatives of the Party of the Left "Fair World" immediately noticed that do not agree with Nikolai Statkevich proposal to unite with everything "except the Communists and "KGB officers"." After all, in Vorša Vorša there has long been a coalition of democratic forces – the general structure of the various political parties and movements, between which there is no conflict, and who work in the same direction, including during election campaigns. Statkevich said that his proposal to separate 'from the communists and "KGB officers"" has been criticized by other initiators of the Congress, and that he was not referring to the pro-Party of Communists of the "Fair World". And that in general it was a question of the campaign "Tell the Truth" from which some time ago, for ideological reasons, departed Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu.
Vorša representative of the campaign "Tell the Truth", and at the same time a member of the BPF Party Ales Shutov said that somehow illogical to call for unification, and at the same time emphasizing that the call is addressed only to the elite. Shutov again stressed that in Vorša at the regional level, there are no contradictions between the participants in the campaign "Tell the Truth" and no representatives of other regional political structures.
Ales Shutov also asked why the congress should be assigned the function of association of supporters of democracy. And I received an answer from Nikolai Statkevich that Congress – an event that did not go unnoticed, and that way you can be the most widely proclaim the unification of the opposition, who are waiting for the Belarusians, as well as supporters of democratic change in countries.
One of the oldest Vorša activists Yury Nagorno chided Minsk politicians that separation in the ranks of the opposition – it is a feature of Minsk, rather than the regions where the "democrats" are not so many, but they are at the same time. And he suggested that, perhaps, there is a sense in the re-election of party leaders, if they act "for sharing" and not for the union.
Much controversy has caused discussion of the strategy to participate in the upcoming elections. In particular, the question of whether to offer in each district one candidate from the opposition, or there should be few. In the latter case, there is a danger that the opposition candidates rack up very few votes, "dragging" of voters from each other. But is there any sense in any calculations, if every time the election results are rigged? This question has remained unanswered.
Talk with local activists Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and Nikolai Statkevich lasted more than one and a half hours. And the call to support the idea of convening a congress in Minsk, guests express permission never came. BHC representative Vasily Beresnev suggested that supporters of the Congress sent to the projects Vorša documents that are planning to take. And while local activists will be determined, whether to support the idea of the Congress or not.
Approximately the same result ended a meeting with representatives of the center-right coalition, Anatoly Lebedko and Denis Sadovsky, who came to Vorša the previous Saturday. Members Vorša coalition of democratic forces believe that the unification of opposition activists should not be on the orders "from above" by the party leadership. In order that the combined worth Voršantsy not argue, however, believe that the process should primarily take place in the regions. And then the "load" between a local structure will be willing to cooperate on a national scale.
Holding the Congress of democratic forces with the aim of consolidating the opposition initiated December 17, 2015 a group of prominent public figures. The next day, Nikolai Statkevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and Stanislau Shushkevich, announced the establishment of the Organizing Committee for the Congress. Now apart from them in the committee are included Zmitser Dashkevich, Siuchyk, Andrei Sannikov, Fedynich and Mikhail Pastukhov.
A coalition of center-right parties – UCP, BCD and the movement "For Freedom" – refused to participate in the Congress of democratic forces, initiated by Nikolai Statkevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, Stanislav Shushkevich.
Radio Liberty
