Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have expressed a desire to participate in it, but now security issues come to the fore. The public has consolidated and actively expresses its constructive civic position. But today it is extremely important to protect people And mass gatherings are always a big risk.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus: "I called the Prime Minister and said that we don't need to gather people in Minsk. We will not ensure the safety of people. That's the main thing. We are already getting this information. It worries me. I'm not afraid, but it worries me. One explosion somewhere in the crowd - and people will start pressing, like on Nemiga." "I say: the event should be canceled, imagine, 250 000 on the streets. "There is also a factor of coronavirus, noted Alexander Lukashenko. Old people can all get infected."
"Therefore, my opinion today is that we cannot, we don’t need to gather people. We will interrupt,” the Belarusian leader said. “Of course, I am very grateful to public organizations, our trade unions, that they were not afraid to put forward this initiative. But in 3-4 days, while all this was unfolding, I come to the conclusion that we should not risk people."
According to the President, this wave began last Sunday, when the radicalization of the protest movement began. "A wave of people just started. People were tired. And they felt that we could lose. I wish there was peace. This is good. We understood this without a war. People, realizing what they could lose, rebelled: we want to come, demonstrate, show that there are many of us," the President proposed in the spring, when it will be warm, to hold a mass event and gather everyone there.
"I promise that in the spring and summer at different venues in a free space, we will organize such beautiful events where you come with the kids, relax. And the situation will calm down. And you will be satisfied."
"But I am not a supporter of this large-scale rally. Of course, I must make a decision and bear responsibility. I will not make a decision to drag people to Minsk."
In general, the conversation today was about the economy and food security. The President visited the branch of Slutsk cheese-making plant, where the issues of filling the stabilization funds were raised. The harvest is good! The main thing is to collect the harvest from the field in time, and the Belarusian leader demanded to control prices, at the same time, prepare sufficient volumes of our own products and do not forget about export!












