{"id":11343,"date":"2022-01-31T04:58:53","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T01:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/lukasenka-does-not-plan-to-ease-crackdown-after-referendum\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"lukasenka-does-not-plan-to-ease-crackdown-after-referendum","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11343\/","title":{"rendered":"Luka\u0161enka does not plan to ease crackdown after referendum"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Aliaksandr Klasko\u016dski, BPN<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka called on political opponents who had fled the country to crawl back on all fours and repent. The remark he made during his annual address on January 28 proves that he does not plan to ease the crackdown after a constitutional referendum scheduled for February 27.<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

Opposes change of presidents<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Although Luka\u0161enka touted his constitutional changes as a democratization process, the following remark he made during his annual address is illustrative of his attitude to democratic systems: \u201cIf we, like some other post-Soviet states, followed the rush of power change and let our policy and ideology zigzag, we wouldn\u2019t be able to stop an uncontrollable tailspin.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The speech showed that Luka\u0161enka does not intend to change the authoritarian system toward greater inclusion. He indicated that the audience he was addressing was a prototype of the future All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly. Members of the audience were picked by authorities among Lukashenka\u2019s tried and true supporters.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The government plans to pass a law governing the assembly, which is to be given extra powers, within a year after the referendum.\n<\/p>\n

Never time to call time<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t The idea behind the All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly is to lock the public out of politics as much as possible. Luka\u0161enka plans to establish a superstructure completely independent of the public opinion to endorse key government decisions.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t It is beyond any doubt that he is planning to remain in office and simultaneously head the assembly at least until the next presidential election expected in 2025.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t He touched on the subject of his departure in his speech, but did not say anything specific as usual. \u201cEverything will depend on the situation. If they impose a war on us \u2013 elections will be out of the question; what else would I do? I will grab a machine gun and lead the way, if necessary\u2026 If everything is quiet and well, if our people live and develop peacefully, [I can go] anytime.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Luka\u0161enka used his speech to drive home the idea that he was irreplaceable (even given by God). He made it clear that if he did not take resolute action in August 2020 to suppress public protests against his re-election, the opposition would surrender the country to the West (according to him, NATO forces \u201cwere on standby\u201d).\n<\/p>\n

\n\t He has cited tension with the West as the main reason for holding on to power also because this is an explanation well aligned with the Kremlin\u2019s policy.\n<\/p>\n

Regime short of developmental ideas<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t \u201cWe have created all opportunities to make Belarus a dynamically developing country,\u201d Luka\u0161enka said. He is trying to sell the planned constitutional reform to voters as a major overhaul of the political system. Critics say that this is nothing but an attempt by the Belarusian ruler to tighten his grip on power.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Luka\u0161enka announced that authorities will soon pass a law defining the essence and structure of civil society. The law is aimed at \u201cpreventing nationalist sleeper cells, which sought to turn the country on its head in 2020, from becoming the core of civil society,\u201d he noted. It looks like the government is planning to set up scores of non-governmental organizations to mimic civic groups.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Luka\u0161enka did not say a word about economic reforms. On the contrary, he made it clear that the government might turn the screws on IT and other private companies. He sees the private sector as a major source of dissent against his rule.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Aliaksandr Klasko\u016dski, BPN Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka called on political opponents who had fled the country to crawl back on all fours and repent. The remark he made during his annual address on January 28 proves that he does not plan to ease the crackdown after a constitutional referendum scheduled for February 27. Opposes change of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-11343","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLuka\u0161enka does not plan to ease crackdown after referendum | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Aliaksandr Klasko\u016dski, BPN Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka called on political opponents who had fled the country to crawl back on all fours and repent. 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