Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko calls on artistic intelligentsia to join forces to save Belarus

MINSK, 5 July (BelTA) – During his visit to the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko urged the artistic intelligentsia to join efforts to save the country, BelTA has learned.

The president called on cultural figures to do their own thing and not get involved in politics. “Believe me, here is the place where you can shine, not in politics. Politics has cruel, crazy rules, they are not for you. There is hardly anyone among you who can handle this. And having plunged in it, you will not be able to get out. Therefore, take care of yourselves. You are talented people, and you should work where you can do it best,” the head of state said.

He emphasized that he is addressing the artistic intelligentsia almost a year after the events of the electoral 2020. “I realized that you are creative people, your work is hard. Maybe you overlooked something somewhere, got carried away by something. Yet, there were not many people among you who were ideologically confused. But today we have approached the red line. I have talked about it recently.  If we cross it, we will lose the country,” the president said.

“Retaining the country is first of all my responsibility, and also yours (as you are the intelligentsia that lead people). Therefore, we must unite and keep the country for those who will come after you in art and after me in politics,” the Belarusian leader said. "We must pass something over to the children. At least let's not destroy what we have created for the past quarter of a century,” he said.

The president noted that indeed not everything was perfect in the country. But it could not be perfect, because the Belarusians have been building their own independent state for the first time in their history. "If you think that if we destroy the country and it makes part of, for example, Poland and you have big roles and are recognized there, you are mistaken. Talk to those who went there and came back," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

"We have approached a dangerous point. I am addressing you now as the president to citizens of the country: This is your land. Do everything possible to preserve it,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

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