Opinions & Interviews

Authoritarian rule and ‘collective president’. What scenario did conspirators prepare for Belarus?

Image credit: The TV channel Belarus One

MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) – If the power grab was successful, the conspirators intended to initially introduce authoritarian rule by a group of seven people. One of the conspirators Yuri Zenkovich revealed it as part of the film “Murderous conspiracy. Target: Lukashenko” aired by the TV channel Belarus One, BelTA has learned. Yuri Zenkovich was sentenced to 11 years in prison in September 2022.

According to Yuri Zenkovich, if the conspirators had managed to seize power, the power would have been concentrated in hands of seven people, including three military ones and four civilians. As part of the “collective president” scheme each conspirator would have been put in charge of one region of Belarus. Apart from that, each member of the great seven was supposed to oversee specific fields.

“For instance, Aleksandr Feduta intended to oversee the reformation of election legislation and oversee mass media. The military members were supposed to take care of social affairs because we believed that military personnel are good at it. I was supposed to oversee the reformation of law enforcement agencies, reforms of the Constitution and the election system,” Yuri Zenkovich explained.

He pointed out that Dmitry Shchigelsky strived for power. He wanted to head the State Security Committee and control the ruling clique. At the same time, according to Yuri Zenkovich’s observations, the other conspirator Igor Makar was more interested in monetary affairs.

After they seized power, the conspirators intended to make the first calls to “powers that be”. In this manner, Yuri Zenkovich noted, they intended to phone Washington, Brussels, and Beijing in the first hour.

Apart from that, within six hours civil servants and officers of defense, security, and law enforcement agencies were supposed to come to their offices. “Those, who fail to do it, will have to deal with the army. Which means immediate arrest or, if resistance is offered, elimination,” Yuri Zenkovich added.

The conspirators expected that they would pull it off nine times out of ten if the army was on their side. The remaining one out of ten was the scenario of a civil war and clashes between defense, security, and law enforcement agencies accompanied by foreign intervention. Apart from that, the possibility of blocking mobile communication and electricity supply in the area of Ostroshitsky Gorodok and the president’s residence was under consideration.

“Ideally the plan that I have helped develop provides for five years of authoritarian rule starting with rigid dictatorship and ending with a gradual transition of power to civilians and the withdrawal of military personnel to their barracks in five years. But there is no doubt that a hardline policy is a must initially. I am not in favor of some tough government. The thing is that tough government is always justified and is a good tool for the ruling clique if fast and radical reforms are needed,” Yuri Zenkovich concluded.

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