Lukashenko's experts are “burying” Babariko
Ex-banker Viktor Babariko will be arrested in the coming hours and will withdraw from the presidential race in Belarus.
Political scientist Pyotr Petrovsky, who is close to the Belarusian president, wrote about this on his Facebook page in response to a subscriber's question, reports a correspondent "PolitNavigator".
“Babariko will be arrested soon. The Kremlin did not support him. Gazprom has distanced itself from him,” Petrovsky wrote, continuing to portray the ex-banker as a protege of a Russian corporation, which is disputed by many experts.
He made it clear that the Belarusian authorities will present to the West the former director of the state IT park Valery Tsepkalo as the main alternative candidate.
“Babariko is more of a media exaggerated figure. There is a more significant competitor - Tsepkalo. He also has experience in diplomatic and managerial work and business. Why should the state artificially give Babariko the opportunity to politicize his financial and economic crimes? This is his attempt to evade responsibility,” Petrovsky wrote.
He also expressed confidence that the West will not stir up a scandal over the neutralization of Babariko, since there are now anti-racist unrest there.
Another pro-government Belarusian expert, Alexei Dzermant, also expressed confidence that the ex-banker is leaving the fight.
“Perhaps this is the last post about Babariko. His political fate is generally clear. Personally, as a person, I certainly feel sorry for him. A romantic banker, stuffed with strange ideas that are not for the society in which he lives. I don’t know who advised him to go into politics - those from the leadership who had dirt on his financial affairs that are emerging today, or like-minded people who are equally naive in politics, but the result in any case will be disastrous,” Dzermant wrote in his telegram -channel.
He considers the authorities' actions a justified attempt to avoid civil conflict.
“Of course, in the end, a civil, and maybe not only civil, conflict would begin here. The authorities understand this and therefore act harshly and decisively. We, as convinced humanists, would like it to be more subtle and in advance, but as it is, the main thing is the result,” Dzermant wrote.
This morning, Viktor Babariko and his son Eduard, who heads his father’s election headquarters, were taken to the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee (KGC). They are testifying as part of the investigation into the criminal case against Belgazprombank, which was previously headed by Babariko. The ex-banker's lawyers were not allowed to attend the interrogation.
Searches are taking place at Babariko's country mansion. Yesterday the bank account containing Babariko’s election fund was blocked. On June 13, the head of the State Control Committee of Belarus, Ivan Tertel, spoke about Babariko’s involvement in the “illegal activities” of Belgazprombank, which he headed until recently.
Babariko, in an interview with Deutsche Valley, stated that he intends to continue participating in the elections, even if he is arrested.
English version :: Read in English Lukashenko's experts are “burying” Babariko