"TELL LUKASHENKO: GONCHAR IS NOT FOR SALE"

In search of the origin of the tragedy that befell Belarus, we cannot but recall Viktor Gonchar. Charismatic, educated, competent, well-known politician, graduate of the law faculty of BSU with honors, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 12th and 13th convocations, former deputy prime minister, ex-chairman of the Central Election Commission, Viktor Gonchar disappeared without a trace together with his friend, businessman Anatoly Krasovsky, on September 16 1999, four months after the disappearance of Yuri Zakharenko.

At the beginning of his political career, Viktor Gonchar and Lukashenka were friends. Gonchar's mother recalled how Lukashenko called her his mother. It was thanks, in the first place, to Viktor Gonchar that Lukashenko, who in 1994 was a couple of months too young for the position of the president, came to power. But after Lukashenka started to implement a policy which was not at all what he had promised, Gonchar turned into open opposition.

Before Gonchar's disappearance, Lukashenka’s envoys tried to bribe him with money, but they received an answer: "You may convey to Lukashenka that Gonchar is not for sale." He was arrested, tortured, severely beaten, Gonchar went on a dry hunger strike.

In 1996, Viktor Gonchar headed the Central Election Commission and was a fierce opponent of the referendum imposed by Lukashenka in order to usurp power in the country. In November 1996, by his decree, Lukashenka dismissed Gonchar from his post and appointed Yermoshyna, a tipical representative of “an obedient state machine, thoughtless, heel-clicking“. However, he did not receive the approval of this act by the Supreme Council, as provided for by the Constitution.

Sheremet in his book "The Accidental President" describes this situation as follows:

“The Constitutional Court recognizes Lukashenko’s decision as illegal, but Lukashenko doesn’t pay any attention to it: soldiers of the internal troops and officers from the president’s guard are expelling Gonchar from the Central Election Commission ... No one has any doubts that all legal norms have been violated, and the Constitutional Court of Belarus begins the procedure for the resignation of the head of state ”.

 

In fact, on November 24, 1996, a COUP D`ETAT TOOK PLACE, AND THE POWER OF LUKASHENKO AFTER THIS DATE IS ILLEGAL.