Hello, Aliaksandr!

• Iryna Khalipi
• 27.02.2018, 8:55

The country needs Elon Mask, not Gutseriyev.

Hello, Aliaksandr!

Will you mind if I call you so? There's no reason to be aggravated: father's name is the Russian tradition. And we reside in an independent country with absolutely different historical traditions. So don't be aggravated, ok?

You know, I have recently had personal business in one of state institutions with check points almost at every step. Do you know what state employees said after examination of my documents? They told me how they bypassed the blocking of "Charter-97". They shared their experience, gave a piece of advice how to do it more efficiently. On January 24 we turned from antagonists and even class enemies into like-minded people and almost conspirators - talks about bypassing of the site's blocking serve like a password and a feedback. The Charter has become the system to recognize "friend-foe".

The blocking was a hard blow on the Charter, and it's true. However, you missed the target. The young who take their smart phones even when taking a shower bypass the blocking with a single click. And old people who barely know how to use a computer to only read news and to talk to children living abroad on Skype suffered a lot. After all, they have poor knowledge of computers. First, you deprived them of benefits, then the opportunity to read the news they like. They have lost faith in your words, and you know it. So, do you take a revenge then? Because they ignore benches near entrances and your series about "challenging happiness".

I hope you are not so mean. I guess it's about other things. By the way, do you know what state employees say about you? I do not mean those in your ice hockey team - ministers and prime-ministers -, but those ordinary officials at places. They (everyone has a boss) say they you have long lost control over the situation. They do not mean the Kremlin. They say that the first person you receive in the morning can persuade you do everything he needs. It's a ridiculous situation, isn't it?

Mr. X who wants to freely go to the West and to be treated as an equal comes to you, and in the evening we can observe, for example, the draft IT-decree. The next day Mr. Y who dreams of execution of all journalists comes next and in the evening the Charter is blocked. Well, it looks like that. When Belarus declares itself a center of high technologies and blows a strike on the Internet, scarcely credible in our space-time continuum (in Europe, and even in our century), it makes us think that you do not make decisions, but those who follow the principle "it's the early bird that gets the worm." Naturally, investors will run away at a cruising speed. And others will not take their places. Haven't they explained it to you?

However, you can see only the tip of the iceberg. They tell you lies and provide you only with a part of information. They persuade you that tomorrow Elon Mask will fly the red roadster with his investments you just need to sign the decree on digital economy and to legalize bitcoins. It is not enough. It's a huge mistake to sign it and to block the most popular independent site the next day. It indicates a backward medieval state with no place for Gates, Zuckerberg, or even for Pavel Durov. You may count only on Gutseriyev, but he is not an investor. He can bring Baskov with him and give a few million dollars. But Baskov and this money is not an investment but... You know what I mean.

At that, you understand that the country needs Elon Mask, not Gutseriyev. But he can barely be interested in the space where the Internet is destroyed, sites are blocked and bloggers are harassed. However, how can we talk about any blockings in the twenty first century when the gap between technological development and clumsy state structures is so big that it may soon be measured in light years? 10 years ago only professionals could bypass the blocking, not every student can do it. And in six months the very concept of "blocking access to the site" will resemble a pager - it will run dry. However, reputation remains. It's time to correct mistakes without waiting for Elon Mask to do it.

I remember you met with Joseph Seredich a year ago. He was inspired and stated that you changed and were aware of the menace which threatened our country. He said that you discussed the society, the national round table, overcoming of external threats and challenges together. I have known Joseph Pavlovich for many years, he told the truth. You really discussed it, but next steps you took were the "Patriots' Case" and the dispersal of the peaceful demonstration on March 25.

Most likely, the following happened again: first Mr. X came to you and convinced you of the need to meet with Seredich and open a dialogue with the society, and after a while Mr. Y came and reported that militants from Poland were already digging tunnels under the border towards Minsk, and he had to jail everyone he could, if not wards left, then others would be intimidated. And now March 25 is about to come.

And it will be the 100th anniversary. Not invented by ideologists, but a real one. A historical, national, prideworthy anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic, a symbol of freedom and strength of the Belarusians, an evidence of national dignity. It should become a national holiday accompanied with a great joyful procession, with fireworks and music. The centenary of BPR can really become a unifying beginning for society. Unless, of course, the last year's story is repeated.

The anniversary of BPR and unlocking of the most popular independent site is the correction of errors which does not cost you a penny. But it may improve your reputation. It's not a big deal to unlock the Charter and celebrate the anniversary of BPR. And it will make a great profit.

By the way, I perfectly understand why you fired your long-standing ideologists two weeks after the blocking of the Charter. Surely all of them and their Ys convinced you that the Charter caused their low popularity. As soon as you block the Charter, all its views will be ours in a months. It has been blocked and nothing has changed. And you finally realozed, they lied to you.

Although they were not only one who did it. Everyone tries to fool you. You'd better create an account on Facebook. Read what Belarusians think about you. And join us on March 25. After all, there should be a point to start from.

Iryna Khalip, journalist