MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – A pro-government rally was organized in August 2020 upon the advice of President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during a meeting with representatives of the general public, experts, and mass media titled as the Big Conversation with the President on 9 August, BelTA has learned.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, it was Vladimir Putin who advised him to arrange a rally of Aleksandr Lukashenko's supporters. Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted he had feared there might be clashes between his supporters and protesters.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “A rally. I had a conversation with Putin about then. He jokingly told me: why are your people not visible? I said: you know, I am even afraid to take my people to the streets. There will be as many of them. I am afraid of the clashes. I was truly afraid. I was cautious and didn't allow anyone to organize rallies because I understood that our people were calm after casting their votes. The other people would calm down after raging a bit. And Putin told me I was wrong. The society needs to see that people support you, he said. I told him I will think about it. Then I came to understand he was right after all. I started feeling that our people didn't understand everything and couldn't see it. The other people were shouting, shields were thrown down, and the rest. And everyone doubted whether he was left alone. And then I gave orders to bring these people, at least a few people from every region. They had to feel this spirit. This is why credit goes to Putin.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also commented on his meeting with representatives of opposition political movements in the KGB's pretrial detention facility. “Nobody was in favor of my trip to the pretrial detention facility. I make decisions myself and I am held responsible for them. When I said I was going to visit the pretrial detention facility, [the then KGB chief Valery] Vakulchik nearly fainted. I asked him whether he was afraid there was not enough room. I said talking in a cell was fine. Vakulchik said they had a small room. This is why we were in that tight room,” the president noted. “It was purely my decision. What prompted it? It was no PR. You know, I was wondering what I should do with them back then. It was very important to give them a pardon or amnesty them. I had to have reasons for it. I had to see them for myself. I am accustomed to doing things like that. I have to get to the bottom of things on my own when I am making an important decision. Honestly speaking, I took pity on them in a way. I have this weakness despite my heroic deeds. I thought I should go there. Naturally some were reluctant to let me go. In the morning I took my kid and went to the pretrial detention facility. It was fervor from the inside. I had to see what kind of people they were.”
