Full 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.

On fight for justice and against corruption

At the beginning of the conversation, RT host Rick Sanchez noted that the West is well aware of Aleksandr Lukashenko's tough stance on corruption, which is even referred to as the professional ethos of the Belarusian leader. The journalist asked what lies behind this conviction.

The President said that he grew up in a poor family and saw a great deal of injustice in his life. "This principle of justice comes from there. From seeing that injustice. That's why I decided once and for all that the fight for justice would be the foundation of my policy," he said.

"Corruption is an outrageous thing and a sign of injustice. If you dig deep, corruption is at the root of the worst phenomena, including wars," the head of state explained.

"Forgive me for being immodest, but I often take stock of my years as President. I see both the good and the bad. My most positive quality is that despite everything, I managed to preserve this sense of fighting injustice. That's my motto," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

On the possible reform of state governance

"We need to seriously reconsider how we govern the country. Perhaps even carry out a reform of state governance, using the experience of the old system, which the Westerners, especially Americans, advised us to fight against," the Belarusian leader said.

He recalled how back in the days of the Soviet Union "well-wishers" from the West incited people to fight against the leading and guiding role of the Communist Party, which was enshrined in the Constitution. And later, after the collapse of the Union, the same people gave plenty of advice and suggestions on how to build life going forward. "But, as it has turned out today, all of that was lies, Western lies," the President said.

"The Westerners recommended above all a multiparty system, then pluralism of thought, and so on, and so forth. They gave us recommendations, and we followed them. Out in front was, of course, Russia, with [First Russian President Boris] Yeltsin at its helm. Then everyone else followed. The cult of money and prosperity was planted right into our brains. Many people, having lost their way, snatched up the most tempting pieces for themselves to become well-off, rich, and so on," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. "What did this lead to? You know this, especially from the example of Russia. Those who could, those who were closer to power, took oil and gas enterprises, became significantly wealthy."

He emphasized that he had not been a supporter of such a course and, as a deputy, voted against the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Aleksandr Lukashenko does not deny that there were certain shortcomings in both the Communist Party and the system of party building in the USSR. They needed to be identified and worked on correcting. That was exactly what Aleksandr Lukashenko was doing at the time, he was a constructive oppositionist within the party. "Perhaps a reform of the Soviet Union was needed. We had more than enough foolishness. Just like you in the USA have a lot of good things, but you also have plenty of foolishness," he said.

"And when I became President, even without the kind of power I have now, I started reforming the country," the head of state said. "We reversed those foolish reforms [suggested by the West] in the harshest possible way. We began to live within our means."

According to him, in difficult situations where you must choose a path, you need to listen not to the advice of others, but to your own people. "My position came from life itself. This is a principle I still hold to: if you don't know what to do, you have to go to the people, they will show you the way. They may not tell you directly, but you must see what needs to be done tomorrow based on real life," the Belarusian leader explained.

On real opportunities for Belarusians to live better

The head of state noted that despite all the difficulties and attempts by external parties to harm Belarus, including through sanctions and other restrictions, the country lives and develops. "It is very dangerous for a President to say we are doing well, because there is plenty of both good and bad. But I always tell my people: we live as well as we deserve. We have real opportunities to live better and even to live well. But that depends on each individual. My task, and the task of the state, is to create opportunities for a normal, honest, and fair life," Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

The President pointed out that if someone breaks the law, acts unjustly, tries to enrich themselves at the expense of others, to line their own pockets - that is immediately stopped. "We respond harshly to that, no matter what it costs us, because it will lead to war. At the very least, to a political civil war inside the country, which could then turn into a war with neighbors, like what happened in Ukraine. I know this very well and I am cautious about it," the Belarusian leader added.

On why the European Union is a weak pillar for the planet

The head of state spoke critically about the behavior and decisions of many leaders of EU countries who pursue mindless policies. "They do not think ahead. To this day, they have relied mostly on the USA, thinking that it would come and solve all their problems. But Trump showed them that your problems are yours. They have nothing to do with the USA. He distanced himself from the European Union, from Europe, even from NATO," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to him, Donald Trump made it clear that he has focused on U.S. interests and issues that are important for his country. These include Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, and, in part, the confrontation with China.

"The European Union should have long ago set before itself not only a strategic goal but also a tactical one - to become an independent pillar of this planet," the Belarusian leader believes.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that he has always advocated for preserving the European Union and strengthening its role, and has tried to build relations with the EU. "Not because they are friendly to us. But because the EU, the USA, China, rising India, and Russia are the pillars of this planet. And the more such pillars there are, the more stable the planet itself will be. That was my philosophical reasoning, and that's why I supported the European Union," the President stated.

At the same time, the EU's policy toward Belarus is not friendly at all: one need only recall the sanctions, attempts to economically strangle the country, and accusations of dependence on others. "They have tried to tie me to everyone: to Russia, to China, and now to the to the United States of America, and to whoever else," the head of state said. "No. We are here - a small country by Russian, American, or Chinese standards. A modern, sovereign, as independent as possible state. We are here, in the center of Europe. That is how God meant it to be."