Reports about the health problems of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, have opened the way for speculations about what will happen if he is no longer in sight, writes the Lithuanian public media LRT.
Lukashenko was last seen in public on the 9th of May in Moscow and Minsk. The appearance was very short in the eyes of the public, and eyewitnesses reported that the Belarusian looked extremely tired. One of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition, Pavel Latushka, announced that Lukashenko had a serious viral infection, while Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who currently lives and works in Vilnius, said that the opposition is preparing. She told LRT TV: “The moment Lukashenko is gone, chaos will break out within the regime. A power struggle may break out. I do not know whether Russia will intervene again, but it will certainly not be enough to put another leader in charge of the country.” According to Tsikhanouskaya,
public support will be especially important for any future Belarusian leader,
and what Belarusians want more than anything else is free and fair elections.
A new wave of rumors arose after Lukashenko did not participate in the National Flag Day celebrations on Sunday, the 14th of May. However, already on the 15th of May, the Belarusian news agency published a photo showing Lukashenko visiting an army base. This has created an uproar in the ranks of the opposition.
Tsikhanouskaya’s adviser Alexander Dabravolski stated that in case Lukashenko unexpectedly dies or becomes incapacitated, the opposition would initiate one of six action plans. He pointed out that
the opposition has a plan for victory, but no one knows exactly how it could unfold.
However, it is clear that new elections will have to be considered.
Vilnius political expert Vytis Jurkonis believes that the plan is necessary not only for the opposition of Belarus but also for the countries of the European Union. First of all, one should not think that Lukashenko’s departure automatically means positive changes. Jurkonis emphasized that the Belarusian regime is not only the president – they are also businessmen and power structures, and this is also support from the Russian side: “Lukashenko is their number one partner these days. If he were out, I have no doubt that there is a plan B and C.”
Lithuanian MEP Juozas Olekas pointed out that the people of Belarus feel the pressure of the regime, but still want change, and that is why the West should provide support to the Belarusian democrats at the right moment.
Read the full article here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1989760/does-europe-have-a-plan-for-belarus-after-lukashenko
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