BNC: People's Patience Is Not Endless

The authorities are advised to give up their dangerous games.

The Belarusian National Congress issued a warning to dictator Lukashenka. The text of the statement was published by one of the BNC leaders Mikalai Statkevich on Facebook:

"The warning by the Belarusian National Congress

On April 24, Aliaksandr Lukashenka speaks in front of both "chambers" of the so-called "national assembly". As we learned from various sources, including from a source inside the government, he intends to voice questions to the "referendum" on the amendment of the Constitution he has already announced. The main issue is the amendment of Article 81 of the Constitution of Belarus, which states: "The president is elected for five years directly by the people of the Republic of Belarus".

Lukashenka proposes to increase the presidential term to seven years, starting its counting from the day of the "referendum".

In order to divert public attention from the attempt to secure another 10 years of uncontrolled power even without the usual "election" performance, Lukashenka intends to put other issues on the "referendum", including the abolition of the death penalty. But this is just a smokescreen over the issue of power, which Lukashenka illegally retains since 1999.

The Belarusian National Congress warns that it will consider the next "referendum" on amending the Constitution, the purpose of which is the lifetime power of the incumbent ruler of the country, as a state crime, to the prevention of which we will call upon the entire society, to raise the entire nation. And we will not stop at any threats, as the lifelong power of a person who keeps the country in political and economic stagnation is a direct threat to the life of Belarus.

The BNC is a supporter of both peaceful changes and peaceful protests against the actions of the authorities that interfere with the changes, but the immoral, cynical behavior of Aliaksandr Lukashenka, directed solely at his own interests, can lead to explosive processes and acute civil conflict with unpredictable consequences.

The patience of the people is not endless, so we advise the incumbent ruler to act not for himself, but for Belarus. We advise you to give up your dangerous games, agree to an intra-national dialogue and return power to the one to whom it really belongs: the people.

Power to the people!

Long Live Belarus! "