You're reading: Lukashenko says he “overshadows” opposition leaders

Minsk - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has called the Belarusian opposition "the fifth column" but claimed it plays no serious role in his country, denied being a dictator, and alleged that Belarus' democratic standards are "absolutely no worse" than those of the United States or Europe.

“Apparently, the incumbent figure is powerful so far. So it overshadows other figures and you can’t see them. Sorry for not being modest. But it’s not me who should be asked that question,” Lukashenko told Russia Today television when asked why he had no powerful opponents in his country.

“Of course, we do have so-called opposition politicians. I call them the fifth column because it’s not their own country they’re working for. And their ideas come from those who finance them for their own benefit,” he said.

“What nation will like such an opposition? But don’t worry. Leaders will emerge in a while,” the president said.

He lashed out against opposition candidates at the 2010 presidential election.

“How could one take them seriously if they came out with such heresies that even ordinary people were put off. And in live programs as well. We weren’t shutting anyone off. Not even when they, in violation of the constitution … were urging everyone to take up picks and pitchforks to go out breaking and crushing things,” he said.

“Okay, 800 people turned out. Four hundred of them were permanent members of the opposition. And that was all there was to it. Yes, they did start breaking and crushing the Government House,” Lukashenko said.

He also said democratic standards in Belarus are “absolutely no worse” than those in the United States or Europe, rejected accusations of being a dictator, and denied having any geopolitical ambitions.

“To dictate, to be a dictator and dictate, one needs resources – economic, social, human, military, warheads and so on. We don’t have any of that,” he said.

“I have an objective assessment of my role in this connection. And let me say now that we don’t have any disease of globalism. We are not going to deal with the problems of the entire planet. We don’t have the resources for that either,” Lukashenko said.

“We want to find our place under this sun and live as a normal civilized central European state,” he said.