Andrei Sannikov on Belarus’ Disputed Presidential Election

ANDREI SANNIKOV, FORMER BELARUSIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, I think I agree with Minister Linkevicius. I think that definitely she was speaking out of duress. And you should realize that it was a special KGB operation to get her out of the country, and it is not over yet. The special KGB operation is something that they planned very carefully, not as a one-time event, but to continue, and they probably had very specific instructions for Svetlana and blackmailing Svetlana was something that is quite difficult to digest for her. So, we should not take anything for granted that this is coming out now from her or her team. We just have to accept the fact that Svetlana is out of the country, but the protest against the regime and the dictator continue.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: So, that’s really important context. Both you and the foreign minister, you know, warned us not to take everything that she posted there at face value, because we don’t know the kind of pressure she’s under. When you say it’s a KGB operation to get her out, are you talking about what the foreign minister said, she was basically given two options, get out or face unspecified, but we all know what, consequences if she stayed in. She’s out. What do you think is in her future if she wants to continue in politics, given that she is also the accidental politician? She was just sort of running in her husband’s place. He was meant to be running until he was jailed.

SANNIKOV: Absolutely. And earlier you mentioned that there was some other figures. No, there were nobody else. Svetlana was quite courageous to step into her husband’s shoes and she was substituting him. And Siarhei Tsikhanouski who is now in jail in a very difficult situation was the candidate of protest in Belarus. So, why did people supported Svetlana so massively and so big numbers? Because she was the candidate, the only candidate running who was running against the regime. Others were fakes. So, don’t even mention the names and the numbers. There was Svetlana and Lukashenko. And people supported Svetlana. And it was actually — I think the message that Svetlana was delivering is that, I am not a politician, you’re right, I’m a novice. I don’t have any specific program. Don’t ask me about this program but I’m here to organize early election without Lukashenko. I have to win for that. And she won. And now, we have to elect our new president without Lukashenko being a candidate.