MINSK, 9 March (BelTA) – Ukrainian journalist Diana Panchenko talked to BelTA’s YouTube project On Point [V Teme] about the role of women in political processes and personality traits of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
“What is the Ukrainian government most afraid of? I know this for sure: it is most afraid of women, so-called women’s revolts, women who have sent their sons to war, husbands who could unite against the authorities. And such processes are already gaining traction in Ukraine; occasional skirmishes at mobilization offices are already happening; people raise questions at meetings with military commissars: we don’t understand what are we fighting for; are we fighting for the happy future of Zelensky and his children and for the people’s deputies who are living a good life? The authorities are afraid of women,” said Diana Panchenko.
The Ukrainian journalist emphasized that today women make the most of the electorates in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.
“They are more active politically than men, and they often set the tone for political preferences in the family. And therefore I will appeal to Ukrainian women: do not send your husbands to war. I understand that many will take my words with disdain and say, it’s easy for her to say it away from Ukraine, but believe me, it also cost me a lot. Find a way to do something,” said Diana Panchenko. “Stop thinking that this is your war. It is clear today that this is not your war.”
“Today we, our youth, hear a lot about the importance of democracy and the change of power. Beautiful slogans are proclaimed time and again. The United States of America knows like no other how to sell such messages. But in these difficult times (I never thought I would say that) a strong hand is very important. Therefore, it’s difficult for me to even comprehend how many efforts it takes Lukashenko to do what he is doing for Belarus today. I am fully aware that the attempts to stir unrest in Belarus were just as intensive as in Ukraine all these years,” noted Diana Panchenko.
She addressed women: “Today I would like to highlight how important it is to have a strong man in your family who shields you from trouble, how important it is for a country to have a strong leader (male or female) whom you can trust. It is very important to appreciate this. And I wish every woman to have a strong shoulder to lean on, and a strong shoulder in your country, wherever you live. Today is not the time for demagogues (I’m talking about the whole world). Today is not the time for beautiful speeches. Today is the time of a cool head, a strong will. This is not the time for chaos and philosophizing. Slick talking is not what the world needs today. Maybe there will be another time for that, but not today. We are perhaps on the brink of the most terrible events in the last century.”
