RR: In 1994, the first presidential elections in Belarus took place on 10 July, exactly, and it became known that Alexander Lukashenko won the elections. At that time, you worked as an advisor to the Belarusian representation in Switzerland, if I’m not mistaken. What did you think about such a choice of Belarusians?
Andrey Sannikov: I didn’t just think, I knew that it would be a disaster. When I worked in Switzerland, I met certain people who were part of Lukashenko’s team. Anatoly Maisenya can be mentioned there, I argued with them, and he assured me that they will if not rule, determine the course Belarus will follow, not Lukashenko. I knew it wouldn’t happen, so I didn’t think, I knew.
RR: Belarusian political elites of that time, but not only political, and cultural, intelligentsia in general, had a common opinion – they chose, but he is a provincial with little experience, the chairman of the collective farm – it will be a year, two, he will not last any longer. That was the opinion, right?
Andrey Sannikov: It was, because the first elections were held, and the elections to the Supreme Council were still semi-free in 1991. I believe that this was the first election, we encountered this institution, and we were delighted – we could choose our leadership. And that’s why everyone there said “Sasha won’t last long”. And even his wife said that he never stayed in any place for more than 2 years.
RR: It turned out quite differently. 30 years of Lukashenko for Belarus, 30 years in the wind, is it possible to find something positive?
Andrei Sannikov: I don’t like this question and I always answer that let’s go when he finishes, then we can look for something. I believe that this is such a completely black line, it has pushed us back not even 30 years ago, but more if we see what is happening around us, first of all in Europe, in the Baltic countries, and Poland. How people live there, and how they have made such a leap now, if you compare it with Belarus, and it is obvious. If it weren’t for this shameful war of Russia against Ukraine, Europe would be a powerful union of wealthy countries. It is still such an association, it is a success story, but Russia has now attacked this association.
RR: In this war, Lukashenko clearly defined who he is against and with whom he is, and what is the most important, the most essential, lost under Lukashenko? – this is according to the opinion of Andrei Sannikov since there can be completely subjective assessments.
Andrey Sannikov: Our place in the world – we have lost what belongs to us by right, we have lost our Europeanness, which should have been strengthened. We lost all the opportunities that we had together with the same Baltic countries, together with the same Poland. Maybe they had even more opportunities than those countries that are now the countries of the European Union. So, we have lost the future, which we must return to become the Belarus that should be in Europe and the civilized world, and not with feudal Russia.
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