Interview with RT news channel

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an interview to the RT news channel.

The interviewer was RT host and presenter of the Sanchez Effect program Richard (Rick) Sanchez. The interview lasted for nearly two hours.

Among the topics discussed were the preparation of a major deal between Belarus and the United States, its possible terms, the United States' unique path to resuming cooperation with Russia, via Belarus, as well as the possibility of a meeting between Aleksandr Lukashenko and Donald Trump.

Also discussed was the geopolitical situation in the world, the situation in individual countries, including the conflict in the Middle East. The Belarusian President spoke about what the war between the United States and Israel against Iran has shown the entire world.

The questions also covered Belarus' relations with EU countries, particularly its neighbors, as well as Aleksandr Lukashenko's friendly ties with world leaders, despite the "wishes" of certain Western politicians.

Matters on Belarus' domestic agenda were also touched upon: ensuring security and the role of nuclear weapons, as well as the country's system of governance. Aleksandr Lukashenko answered questions about who he answers to and what he envisions for Belarus' future.

During the conversation, RT journalist Rick Sanchez noted that the Western perception is that Belarus has a dictatorship, while the United States is presented as a model of democracy. However, despite the fact that a new person comes to power in the USA every four years, the political situation in the country does not change. At the same time, Belarus has seen consistent and progressive development for more than 30 years, and the head of state enjoys the support of the people.

In this context, the journalist asked a logical question: does democracy really exist in the USA, and dictatorship in Belarus?

"You talk about some kind of democracy, about human rights... It's all talk. Your policy in Venezuela, threats to Cuba, the war in the Middle East and other things show that you are real dictators. You are no democrats," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The President cited a concrete example to back up his point. He recalled that on the first day of the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran, a girls' school was hit. As a result, about 200 people were killed, mostly children.

"You bombed a school (for example, a school) in an independent, sovereign country located tens of thousands of kilometers away from you and which posed no threat to you. You bombed a school where children and teachers died - nearly two hundred people. And how many have died because you encouraged Israel's bombings [referring to strikes on the Gaza Strip]? What human rights are you talking about?" Aleksandr Lukashenko asked rhetorically.

The head of state emphasized that such a policy contradicts the most fundamental human right - the right to life. "If you stand for human rights, then let people exercise their primary right - the right to life. People wanted to live, especially children. You destroyed them. That single fact alone completely invalidates everything you have said [about human rights]," the Belarusian leader said.

The President stated that U.S. policy is driven by interests, not by democracy or human rights. In the case of a war with Iran, he said, it is about seeking to gain control over oil and gas. "These interests [oil and gas] are pursued by you through any means, including military ones. You are ready to bomb, break, and crush, regardless of any human rights, that is the essence of dictatorship," he declared.

Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that there is no democracy inside the United States itself either: "You talk about human rights and democracy, but nothing really changes in the country. So, perhaps you have a dictatorship inside your own country?"

In this regard, the head of state expressed the view that the USA could learn about democracy from Belarus. "You will have to learn about democracy from us. I have said this many times before. We have a hundred times more democracy than you do. Real democracy, real human rights… What human rights can you talk about when you kill people? Once you've killed a person, what rights do they have? They are dead," the Belarusian leader said.