English

Paznyak reveals that he learned about financing of "Tell the Truth!" movement from KGB

 

Zyanon Paznyak, the emigre chairman of the Conservative Christian Party, revealed on Thursday that he has learned about the financing of the "Tell the Truth!" movement from "KGB sources."

"They were given money, even the amount is known," the 68-year-old Paznyak told the Belarus Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "I can tell you for sure that $4.5 million was provided for the 'Tell the Truth!' movement. This is certain, they said this themselves while being questioned by the KGB."

Mr. Paznyak defended his critical remarks about Belarusian opposition forces made earlier this week in an interview with news site InterPolitTV, which uploads video reports to Youtube. The interview was widely quoted by the Belarusian state media.

Mr. Paznyak reiterated his allegation that Belarusian opposition groups were financed and controlled by the West and had no ideas of goals of their own.

Simultaneously, these groups are part of the structure of Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime and have carried out all its projects, Mr. Paznyak said. The most recent project was the 2010 presidential election, which was turned into a provocation and an opportunity for the government to stifle all dissent and hold on to power, he said.

Opposition leaders have done nothing but harm to the Belarusian people, Mr. Paznyak said. "They let the money they had taken from the West go down the drain," he said. "And now, as it happens, the West seeks direct contacts with Lukashenka and not with them as it pursues its policy. This is the achievement of these losers! So let them make conclusions instead of comments. I repeat, this opposition, which has gone bankrupt, squandered the West's money and done so much harm to the Belarusian people, should get the hell out of politics, to a man!"

Zyanon Paznyak has been living outside Belarus since April 1996, when he fled the country after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with his role in street protests against President Lukashenka's pro-Russian policies.

In the period between May 1990 and January 1996, Mr. Paznyak was a member of the Supreme Soviet (parliament), where he headed the group of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF).

In 1994, Mr. Paznyak was a candidate in a relatively free and fair presidential election. Out of the six candidates on the ballot in the first round, he came third with 12.9 percent of the vote after Mr. Lukashenka with 44.8 percent and Vyachaslaw Kebich with 17.3 percent.

In 1999, the Belarusian Popular Front's radical wing led by Mr. Paznyak split from the main BPF to found the Conservative Christian Party. The new party claimed to be the only true BPF successor and did not recognize the "other" BPF. It also distanced itself from the rest of Belarus' opposition groups and labeled them as the "regime's accomplices" for the lack of action against the threat of Belarus' incorporation into Russia, and dependence on Western grants. //BelaPAN