Delegate of the First All-Belarusian People’s Assembly on the historical role of the People’s Assembly in the fate of the country

Galina Chayankova from Gomel about the first VNS: “The course proposed by the President justified itself”

Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy, History and Political Science of the Belarusian State University of Transport Galina Chayankova was a delegate of the very first All-Belarusian People’s Assembly. Later, her students took part in the People’s Congress, and Galina Mikhailovna herself tells with special trepidation in university classrooms about the fateful significance of this event for the whole country.

Recalling 1996, the teacher shares his observations on the economic and political situation in Belarus:

Galina Chayankova. At that time, I was deputy dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Economics. I remember the general meeting where I and the rector were elected delegates. As a teacher, she actively cooperated with the “Knowledge” society and often performed in labor collectives. People have heard about economic problems, hard life and despair.

Galina Chayankova notes that the parliamentary form of government at that time demonstrated impotence before solving real requests of people:

The Supreme Council adopted the first Constitution in a state of euphoria. At the time, its developers were more concerned with independence from the Communists than with how to feed and clothe people. Alexander Lukashenko made a fateful decision to consult with the people. The meeting was very representative and reflected all facets of the society of the then young independent country. For example, the former party leaders and the clergy are nearby – until recently an unthinkable picture. It seemed that you could not find a representative of which would not be found in the hall. The President’s speech made an indelible impression. I still tell students about it. Priorities have been defined on which the country will live. This report made even critics of Alexander Grigorievich think about what we have and what we can lose.

The participant of the first VNS emphasizes:

- The open vote of the delegates showed overwhelming support for the President’s decisions. But most importantly, the correctness of our choice proved time. Over the past 30 years, I have never doubted that the course of development proposed by the President of Belarus has proved itself. As a historian, I am especially glad that in order to solve the most important issues in the life of the country, we have returned to the tradition of holding the people’s Congress and revived its role as a true instrument of democracy.

boyarchuk@sb.by