During the nationwide conference dedicated to Actualisation of Methods and Forms of Work with the Population at the Local Level, the President of Belarus spoke about a new partner the state has got
“Against the backdrop of 2020 events, within the framework of various initiatives, a politically active part of Belarusians began to form, aimed at creating and preserving traditions and continuity of generations. We saw citizens with a state position, devoted to national interests, which is very important,” underlined the Head of State.
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that in the tradition of Western liberal culture, civil society exists as an opposition to the state, “Meanwhile, the local elites, trying with all their might to retain power, ‘are playing’ democracy with this society, offering imaginary, virtual freedoms instead of real freedoms, replacing them with immorality and the legalisation of vile vices. This creates the illusion of democracy. When necessary, they teach democracy with a baton and tear gas, as you have seen it all from France to Latvia.”
However, according to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarusians are different, boasting their own culture and traditions, “In our national family there are such Slavic concepts as national unity, ‘toloka’ [form of mutual assistance among villagers] when the authorities and the people jointly make the most important decisions in the life of the state. If we talk about the legal status of civil society, which we will prescribe in the law, then it assumes that this institution is focused on a dialogue with the authorities and an unequivocal commitment to the long-standing values and traditions of the Belarusian people, the interests of the state.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko clearly stated that financing such structures from foreign sources is out of the question, “We are aware: he who pays the piper calls the tune.”
