Alyaksandr Lukashenka's belittling remark about the Belarusian nation is unacceptable, Ihar Lyalkow, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), says in a statement.
Speaking to reporters in Zhlobin, Homyel region, on Saturday, about the Belarusians' devaluation fears, Mr. Lukashenka said, "I see that our 'peoplet' has been rushing to currency exchange outlets in the past few months. We already have bad experience. I stress once again that your fate is in your own hands."
"This is a direct insult to the national honor of the Belarusian people," Mr. Lyalkow says in his statement. "The author of this outrageous remark has thus showed that he does not have real respect for the Belarusians and does not consider them to be worth taking at all seriously."
Mr. Lukashenka's rhetoric reveals his true attitude to not only the Belarusians in general but also the category of voters who still support his authoritative rule, Mr. Lyalkow says.
If the head of state calls his nation a "peoplet" and tries to blame it for the depreciation of the national currency and other consequences of a flawed economic policy, these problems may be his fault and not the responsibility of his people, Mr. Lyalkow says.
He warns that politicians who view the Belarusians as a "peoplet" will inevitably end up in the dustbin of history.
