MINSK, 2 December (BelTA) – The decision to run for president in August 2020 was the most important decision of my life, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in a recent interview with Dmitry Kiselyov, Director General of the Russian state news agency MIA Rossiya Segodnya, BelTA has learned.
"I was ready that people might elect a new man. I might have not run. But what I did, forgive me for immodesty, was brilliant. Before the election, I said publicly that I couldn't help but run. What if something happened (a war, a chaos in the country, etc.) and I did not run, or these things happened after the election, people would accuse me of running away, of being a coward. As it turned out I was absolutely right," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
According to the head of state, he decided to run "not because he was ‘great' but because he defended his lifework." "I defended my lifework. I molded it with my own hands. Did I do it well or bad is debatable but I created it, and I defended my lifework,” he said. "Time has passed. The decision to run for the president was the most important decision in my life."
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the authorities did not falsify the election. "I would like to see that person who would present the evidence that the presidential election was rigged. Although they messed up with people's minds pretty bad. But why am I saying this? I didn't campaign for president. Then I told Belarusians if they elected a new president, not me, I would not be offended. The time has come, there must be new people. That was my main message," the Belarusian leader said.
"It's good that I ran. Forgive me for my immodesty, this saved Belarus. Not because I am a dictator," the president added.
The head of state also explained why he does not announce further plans in politics. "I am making plans, but I'm not making them public for the same reason why Putin doesn't. If I say that I will not be president tomorrow, we can imagine what will happen," he said.
