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Nyaklyayew calls for holding “All-Belarusian Convention for Independence”

Former presidential candidate Uladzimir Nyaklyayew has called for holding another “All-Belarusian Convention for Independence” amid a threat of Belarus’ incorporation by Russia.

In an interview with BelaPAN, the 65-year-old poet-turned-politician said that the idea of holding the convention had originated with a group of intellectuals who organized a similar event in 2000.

The 2000 All-Belarusian Convention for Independence took place one year after Belarus and Russia signed the Union State Treaty. “Now Belarus is facing a much bigger threat to its independence than in 2000, that’s why I find such a convention necessary,” Mr. Nyaklyayew said.

According to the leader of the “Tell the Truth!” movement, last year’s currency crisis highlighted Belarus’ weak economy. “Owing to the sale of state property we risk losing the national wealth that was collected by many generations of Belarusians. Because of an imprudent and inconsistent foreign policy our country is drifting away from the democratic world and firmly heading toward international isolation,” he said.

It is civil society rather than opposition forces that must be involved in organizing such a convention, Mr. Nyaklyayew suggested. Government experts would be welcome at the event, he said. “This would help settle the confrontation inside the country and we would see that there are people in the government who truly advocate Belarus’ independence,” he explained.

“Twenty percent of the country’s population supports opposition forces. Twenty percent is a fifth of Belarus’ population not the fifth column. And this fifth of the country has the right to its own views and position,” Mr. Nyaklyayew said.

The politician expressed hope that the convention would be held in Belarus. “Hopefully, it will take place in Belarus in the near future, as one cannot delay it. Hopefully, it will be held either in late May or at the beginning of the summer. A convention held outside Belarus would be more radical, something that I think neither we nor the authorities would want,” he said.