“Get out before it’s too late!” Svetlana Alexievich called on Alexander Lukashenko to resign

Nobel laureate in literature Svetlana Aleksievich spoke about the protests that began following the results of the presidential elections in Belarus and called on the leader of the state, Alexander Lukashenko, to resign.

“I would like to repeat what journalist Svetlana Kalinkina said so beautifully: “Go away beautifully!..” But it won’t work out already, blood [was shed]. Get out before it's too late, before you throw people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war! Get out! Nobody needs Maidan, nobody needs blood. You just want power, and this desire of yours will turn into blood,” she said in an interview with the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty.

According to the writer, after the current elections, “the authorities have declared war on their people,” which is why society is becoming very radicalized. “Who might like it? Belarusians emphasize that we are peaceful people, we do not beat or kill anyone. The almost inhuman, satanic fury with which the riot police operate - it's hard for me to believe that this is the Belarusian riot police. It seems to me that Belarusian boys cannot beat their mothers and sisters like that,” Aleksievich said.

At the same time, she thanked the protesters for "preserving our dignity." “I just fell in love with my people over the past few weeks. These are completely different people, these people have a completely different strength, ”she concluded.