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Crisis in Belarus

Lukashenko says Belarus must remain presidential republic

The Belarusian leader said he supported a constitutional reform

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Sergei Sheleg/BelTA/TASS

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko

© Sergei Sheleg/BelTA/TASS

MINSK, February 11. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that his country must remain a presidential republic.

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"I stand for a constitutional reform. But I am certain that our country must remain a presidential republic," he told the All Belarusian People's Assembly on Thursday.

Lukashenko is certain that Belarus must remain a presidential republic even after he steps down. "There’ll be the day when other people come. They are already knocking on the door. I can hear that," Lukashenko said, adding that today’s unrest was over the personality of the current president. "But I would like you to understand that I am a very resolute person and not a cowardly one. I’m not at all worried about myself. I have no wealth. Don’t you think that I’ve grabbed or stolen something. I have nothing but Belarus."

He stressed that power was not a piece of old rug to be easily disposed of. "I kept building this country to the best of my knowledge. And you must realize that I will not let it be ridiculed and humiliated, regardless of whether I am in power or not," the Belarusian leader said. At the same time, he stressed that a new generation must rise to power and that was to be decided by the people in honest and open elections.

"We, my generation of politicians, are obliged to guarantee this to the Belarusian people," Lukashenko said, adding that the constitutional reform would be discussed at various dialogue platforms for a whole year.

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