Vitaliy Kim: I See Resistance Of Belarusians Who Don’t Want To Fight On Foreign Land
- 24.03.2022, 10:20
The head of the Mykolaiv region addressed the Belarusian military.
Chairman of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vitaliy Kim told Radio Svaboda about how he supported the Belarusians during the peaceful revolution of 2020, and also addressed the Belarusian military.
RADIO SVABODA: In recent weeks, you have become one of the most popular politicians in Belarus. People see an effective local leader close to the people, in contrast to the obedient and faceless “vertical officials” who head the Belarusian regions. How can the Belarusians, who are against the war, help the Ukrainians, how can they help people in the Mykolaiv region?
VITALIY KIM: I understand Belarusians, because your leader does not change either (as in Russia — RS). When a person is in power for a long time, they lose contact with the people, break away from the Earth, and live in their own world, in their little head. I understand this very well, because Belarusians want changes, they want to live well.
And the main problem is why the Russians are attacking us... If we get a democratic state with freedom of the press and freedom of speech... Whether we like or dislike someone, we choose, maybe we make mistakes, but this is our business. We are developing, and dictatorships see this, and so they think — God forbid Ukraine will succeed, their people will also want to change everything so that it is good. As in the good old Slavic proverb — we don’t want to live better than our neighbor, it is enough that our neighbor lives worse than us. According to this principle, they attack us.
What can I wish Belarusians? I watched the situation when there were elections in Belarus, and I was very proud that so many people came out and protested against the illegal elections in your country. But we didn’t come to you with troops and didn’t say that we think it was dishonest, and now we will help you and free you. But your situation really was such that it was necessary to save people. I wish Belarusians to go and fight. Don't be afraid, fight. If you don't start, it will never happen. All the same, you need to fight and defend your point of view in spite of everything.
RADIO SVABODA: I am subscribed to your Telegram channel. You posted photos of Belarusian passports, on which supposedly Ukrainian border guards wrote “Glory to Ukraine”. Perhaps these are the passports of Belarusians who participated in the protests, fled from repression to Ukraine, and now stand against the war. Do you think it's the right thing to do?
VITALIY KIM: I do not know. Perhaps not. Now there is a large flow of information, there are different opinions, and then we understand everything in detail. Everyone can be wrong. In any case, I see the resistance of Belarusians who do not want to fight on foreign land. It’s not very good there either, they say, it’s a beautiful country — and you need to help someone, spend your resources, send your soldiers to die for someone else’s idea. As I understand it, you need to deal with your own country. I really want there to be no hostilities between Ukraine and Belarus. No reason. There is nothing to divide between you and us, for sure.
This is the influence of a neighboring large country on you, the imposition of their ideas and wishes. I am convinced that Belarusians do not need a war, and they do not need the corpse delivery. We, unfortunately, have no choice. We will kill anyone who comes to our land with weapons, and defend our land. Therefore, I want you not to attack, not to join the aggressor, the occupier. And from our side, we will help as much as we can.
RADIO SVABODA: How would you address the Belarusian militaries, who can be sent to Ukraine at any time?
VITALIY KIM: In order to personally understand the current situation in Ukraine, they need to communicate with the commanders and military of the Russian units that we have here. And they will get an objective picture, not the one they hear in their surroundings. And let them make their own decision, because nothing but grief awaits them here. There is no easy victory in Ukraine, we will not give up ours. We know how to fight, and will defend what is ours. If they decide to fight, then it will be their responsibility for all the dead, whom they will lead to the territory of Ukraine.