Belarusian Lawmaker Urges Copying Any Western Tech: "You Are Waging War Against Us"
A Belarusian parliamentarian, Oleg Gaidukevich, has defended his use of a non-Russian smartphone and called for copying any Western technology, arguing that Western nations are waging a “war” against Belarus and thus all means are justified.
Gaidukevich said he decided to address the issue after seeing criticism on social media questioning why he was not using a Belarusian or Russian-made phone.
«I remember someone wrote in the comments, ‘So, you use a phone that is neither Belarusian nor Russian.’ I replied, as I see it: my grandfather drove a German tank all the way to Berlin. So, it didn’t stop him from winning,» Gaidukevich stated during an interview with the Russian media outlet «Sputnik.»
He framed his position as a response to Western hostility. «We will take whatever we want. And we must use what we want. What international courts? Are you waging a war against us? On all fronts, in all areas, and you hope that we won’t take some technology? We will use what we need,» he declared.
The lawmaker further accused Western countries of having «looted and stolen everything after the collapse of the USSR» and «taking so much out of here,» without providing specific details.
Gaidukevich concluded that it is necessary to «take, use, copy» from the West and «not stand on ceremony with anyone.»
The comments come after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko recently demanded that officials use mobile phones more rationally and enhance cybersecurity by reducing reliance on total digitalization.
Lukashenko argued that, unlike mobile communications, if officials use landline phones, their conversations would «definitely not end up on servers in Canada or the USA.»
«Otherwise: your phone is lying nearby — the special services know everything that is happening with you. Whether it’s on or off — it doesn’t matter,» Lukashenko was quoted as saying by the Telegraf.news outlet.