Pavel Latushka: Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus (UTC), representative of the UTC on power transition. Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Leader of the "Latushka Team and Movement for Freedom" fraction in the Coordination Council of the third convocation
Lukashenko's repressive apparatus has gained such momentum that it can no longer stop. Searches, detentions, criminal cases, lists of extremists and extremist materials, political prisoners — all of this is the result of a dictator's paranoia and fear that his rule might end. And he loves his power more than anything else in life. "Eliminate all dissenters" — this is the dictator's motto.
Right now, Belarus is undergoing mass political purges across the entire country: in Smarhon, Vawkavysk, Homyel, Minsk, Brest, Zhlobin, Baranavichy, Novopolotsk, Polotsk, Maladzyechna, Byerazino, and other cities, there are raids, detentions, and arrests.
At his conference yesterday, Lukashenko spoke at length about the importance of ending violence, the need for peace, and dialogue. On that very same day, while he was delivering these friendly speeches, the henchmen of this duplicitous dictator intensified mass political repression across the country, which continues to this day.
These widespread acts of intimidation against Belarusian society ahead of Lukashenko’s attempt to reappoint himself to the presidency reveal the dictator’s true nature. His words cannot be trusted — one must look at the facts, and they are horrifying: more than 1,300 political prisoners, ongoing repression, an atmosphere of total terror, and the complete absence of conditions for fair elections.
"Enemies of the people" are essential to a dictatorship, and they can’t simply disappear. It’s no surprise that even some of his loyalists occasionally get caught up in the sweep. For the average person, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of everything that could land them in jail.
I’m sure even the KGB and the Operational and Analytical Center (OAC) realize the problem the system has created for itself, but there is simply no way out. For the regime, canceling or rolling back these repressive laws, all these lists, and so on, is unthinkable. Because for the system, that would mean showing weakness. And showing weakness = collapse. So, for the regime, it’s safer to keep moving gradually toward North Korea-style totalitarianism.
Lukashenko cannot allow real competitors into the election — those who could actually defeat him.
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