Only authorities are to blame that we are an aggressor country now – Viktar Babaryka

March 4, BPN. “The authorities’ activities turned us into an aggressor country,” said former presidential candidate and ex-chair of Belgazprombank Viktar Babaryka, as quoted by his headquarters.

“Authorities are to blame for the unwillingness to hear people and their desire to cling to power at all costs. They turned to another country for ‘salvation’ because of the ruined economy and society. As a result one becomes implicated and completely controllable under certain conditions in a real military conflict,” Babaryka said.

In his opinion, it doesn’t bode well for Belarus and its citizens. “When you help one neighbour no matter the cost, and become an enemy to another neighbour, the terms of ‘neutrality’ or ‘island of stability’ become irrelevant. People die, it is a huge tragedy and a sad page of our history,” said the politician.

On July 6, 2021, Babaryka was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of bribery and money laundering.