Artemy Troitsky: Belarusians Want To Take Lukashenka Out With His Feet First
- 26.09.2023, 10:40
Belarus was one step away from victory.
From the very beginning of the protests in Belarus, Russian writer, music critic and journalist Artemy Troitsky has been on the side of the Belarusians who stood up for fair elections and against the aggression of Lukashenka's regime.
Back in 2014, he sharply criticised the Russian authorities for the annexation of Crimea - and moved to live in Estonia. In 2023, like many cultural figures who spoke out against Russian aggression, he was added to the list of foreign agents. This, however, has not changed the stance of the journalist, who continues to call things by their true names.
"Salidarnasts" asked Artemy Troitsky about the Belarusian revolution, musical opportunists and a little bit about the future.
We started the conversation with Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. The Belarusian human rights activist is 61 years old, and this is the third birthday (and if we take into account the past imprisonment, it's already the sixth), which he celebrates in captivity.
The founder of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" was sentenced to 10 years for allegedly "smuggling" and "financing of group actions that grossly violate public order." It's clear that Ales Bialiatski didn't admit guilt on any of the charges. And for him, as for millions of Belarusians, the page of 2020 has not been turned.
- I don't know Ales Bialiatski personally, but I'm convinced that it's a disgrace to imprison a Nobel laureate. As well as keeping political prisoners in prison in general.
- However, alas, their number is not decreasing. And it is very symbolic that the state, which boasts of being "peace-loving", keeps a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in prison....
- Yes, I agree with you, it's a very revealing moment.
- After 2020, the society in Belarus split, and after the war started this split deepened even more. Belarusian rockers, and in general, almost all significant creative figures, which is very important and pleasant to realise, took the side of democracy, humanity, just common sense.
In your opinion, why there is no such unanimity among Russian musicians?
- It's an interesting question, and I've already asked it to myself. I think, firstly, it's because the majority of people in Belarus do not support Lukashenka's regime.
That is, if we can say about Russia that 15-20% are against Putin, against intervention in Ukraine and in general against this regime, then the percentage of those who would like to take Lukashenka out with their feet first is much higher in Belarus. In my opinion, more than half of the population for sure, - rather, 80-90 per cent.
In this sense, the opposition to the regime is much more numerous and monolithic in Belarus (at least, as it seems to me, I can't refer to exact figures, and all sociological polls in this sphere are not very convincing nowadays) than in Russia.
Accordingly, this also applies to artists, including rock musicians. I am just very glad that Belarusian rockers, unlike many Russian rockers, remained faithful to the ideology of this musical genre, which has always been anti-state, anti-war and peace-loving.
The Belarusians are great here. As for Russian musicians, I am consoled by the fact that all the best musicians, of course, turned out to be on the right side of the barricades. And the traitors to the ideals of their own youth are mostly second-rate and untalented artists.
- Was there anyone who surprised you with his stance?
- No, there wasn't.
- You spoke very warmly about the Belarusian art-protest, made several radio programmes about the art-resistance. Do you follow Belarusian music now?
- I haven't heard anything new lately, so I can't name anything fresh that would grab me.
- In 2020 it seemed to Belarusians that the regime was about to be defeated and the dictatorship would end. In 2022, many people also thought: Russia's attack on Ukraine is madness, it can't and shouldn't happen, and of course, it will soon be over. However, it is already autumn of 2023, and the war continues, and the regimes hold on to power.
In your opinion, was everything that has happened inevitable? And could the end come soon?
- I believe that it could have ended much earlier and much more cheerfully.
But, unfortunately, the protesters, the freedom-loving and courageous citizens, neither in Belarus, which, I think, was literally one step away from victory, nor, even more so, in Russia, had the determination to go all the way. That is the fundamental problem. Although "happiness was so close, so possible."
- In one of your publications you compared the Belarusian regime to an aspen tree and the Russian regime to a baobab. Do you think it will take it a long time to rot before it collapses (and with it the Belarusian regime, which has clung to its "big brother")?
- To think that it will end in a popular uprising - it is highly unlikely. From my point of view, the most likely scenario for Russia is some kind of coup d'état or backstage intrigue that will end with Putin's removal.
And I think it will happen quite quickly - because all the people with even a little bit of common sense realise that Putin is leading Russia to total catastrophe.
- When they put an end to it in one form or another - would you like to return to Russia?
- It all depends on what Russia will be like. I think that in any case it will be better after Putin than it is now, - Artemy Troitsky smiles sadly. - At least, then I will be able to visit Russia regularly, and I would certainly like that. As for moving there forever - it's unlikely.
- Will you come to democratic Belarus?
- I will come to Belarus with great pleasure, my mother-in-law lives there. And my wife is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, she misses her homeland very much. So, I think we'll come, and soon enough.
- By the way, has your wife been disturbed by the recent story about the ban on issuing Belarusian passports abroad?
- We talked to her about it, but, in general, there is no drama in our particular situation.