Tsygankou: Babaryka is much closer to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's office position than to statements by "Babaryka's supporters"

Photo: Lookby.media

“Babaryka against "Babaryka's supporters"? OK, ok, a clickbait "headline" for these notes, but indeed, it seems that Viktar Babaryka (at least on the topic of sanctions) is much closer to the position of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office than to some statements made by those people who are called "Babaryka's supporters."

But let's start in order. Viktar Babaryka gave an almost three-hour interview to Nasha Niva's project "Tok" — his most extensive and comprehensive media appearance since his release.

At this point, it appears that the interview has received mostly positive feedback in the media and on social networks. (Of course, I mean the segment of Belarusian society that has the opportunity to publicly express its opinions on political issues — primarily people located outside Belarus). Perhaps it's because while watching the interview, it seemed that Viktar Babaryka, firstly, spoke sincerely and did not resort to abstract reasoning (as was the case in Ukraine regarding Crimea), and secondly, had already defined his clear position on most of the burning issues that concern society the most.

One can recall how much criticism Maria Kalesnikava's interview with Dud received — primarily her theses on softening sanctions and dialogue with the regime. On this topic, Babaryka spoke quite concretely — "How can one imagine Europe, which understands that sanctions were introduced against both Russia and Belarus — and we will lift sanctions from Belarus, but not from Russia? Or vice versa. That doesn't happen. It's a package. They were introduced together, with different restrictions, but in principle for the same reason." Or further — "I consider it unequivocally correct: sanctions cannot be lifted from those enterprises and individuals who are involved in the production or support of the war."

As I understand it, Babaryka demonstrates pragmatism and a realistic assessment of the situation. In the sense that — we may want and desire something, but is it realistic to achieve it today?

"The question being discussed is precisely what the current Belarusian government can do separately from Russia? And then Europe comes and says: what can you do? You can do a very limited number of things," Babaryka states.

From the interview, it appears that Babaryka, at least on the topic of sanctions, is much closer to the position of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office than to some statements made by those people who are called "Babaryka's supporters."

It should be recalled that some of them had been actively criticizing the Office and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's inner circle for quite some time, essentially waging a stubborn ideological war against it. But now Babaryka is released, and he does not undermine her authority, does not declare that she represents no one, and, as it appears at the moment, is not going to create some alternative center of power (or powerlessness :)

Regarding the internal struggle within the opposition, Viktar Babaryka also spoke quite unequivocally — "Why should we divide the skin of an unkilled bear? There is no bear." The only thing left to divide is money. But Babaryka has neither the intention nor the desire to divide money. "I have never in my life engaged in politics from the perspective of securing my own existence. Therefore, I will certainly not divide this pie for myself."

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