January 14, Pozirk. Aleh Hajdukievič, a staunch Alaksandar Łukašenka’s supporter running for president, criticized the 2020 postelection protests in his electoral program published yesterday by state-run newspapers.
The politician accused regime critics of threatening Belarus’ existence in 2020, claiming that their actions could have led to “a color revolution, chaos and war.”
These statements stand in sharp contrast with his opinion of the protests in August 2020, when he told the BBC that people had the right to express their point of view. The criticized the use of excessive force to disperse protesters and even admitted that his wife participated in a large rally against police violence. Later, he reportedly divorced.
The politician’s election manifesto is based on the platform of his pro-government Liberal Democratic Party that he heads.
He stressed the importance of independence and sovereignty, called for abolishing district elections in favor of a mixed-member proportional representation system and for banning opposition from participating in the elections.
Hajdukievič pledged to support integration initiatives among the former Soviet republics and forge close ties with the Global South.
Domestically, he promises to raise living standards, ensure stability of the banking system and attract investments.
The politician supports the government’s effort to preserve state-run industries, but spoke in favor of private “farmer initiatives” and “small and medium-sized businesses in science and manufacturing.”
Belarus may benefit from simplifying tax legislation and leniency for economic crimes, except for state property misappropriation, corruption and attempts to transfer money across the border, he said, touting his experience in fighting corruption and economic crimes during his service as a police officer.
Belarus will hold its seventh presidential election from January 21 to 26, with the whole election cycle limited to just three months. The current campaign is taking place in a purged political landscape amid a crackdown on regime critics.
Alaksandar Chižniak, Siarhiej Syrankoŭ as well as former MP Hanna Kanapackaja are running along Łukašenka and Hajdukievič.
The Belarusian opposition dismissed the election as a sham, noting that political reprisals prevent pro-democracy candidates from running and voters from freely expressing their will.
The country has not held a single free and fair election since 1996 by the standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
