BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/12/2007

Shushkevich vs Nazarbayev

by Arseny

This is a translation of Adam's post from the Russian version of our blog.

Stanislav Shushkevich - the first head of state of independent Belarus was removed in 1994 from his position of chairman of the Supreme Soviet through the effort of the parliamentary commission led by Alexander Lukashenka (who became the president the same year). In his interview to "Nasha Gazeta" (Our Newspaper) said that Kazakhstan is a country similar to Belarus by its political system.

"There is also a powerful propaganda machinery working in your country, the inclination to anti-democracy is very high, and an authoritarian leader is in power. This is a Soviet times' legacy. It is difficult for the society to believe in a political programme; to believe in a personality is much easier. Lukashenka and Nazarbayev are both craving for power. They both have the same concept: first we harshly establish order, and only then build a democracy. This approach is vicious."

Today Shushkevich is heading the opposition party Belarusian Social Democratic Gromada, cooperating with other oppositionists. Lech Walesa initiated the nomination of Shushkevich for Nobel Peace Prize.

Source:

http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2007/12/03/shushkevich-vs-nazarbayev/