Euroradio “incites” ONT director-general to joke about Lukashenka

Editor-in-chief of Euroradio Vital Zyblyuk asked Alyaksandr Lukashenka the following question during the press conference on December 23: “Do you have a sense of humour, are jokes about the President allowed, what was the last joke you heard about you and what is you attitude to the fact that jokes about you are clipped out by the state TV channels?”

The question put the President on his guard at first: “By what channels?” – he asked again.

"By Belarusian channels showing Russian programmes. They do not show all the jokes about you”, - specified Vital Zyblyuk.

Lukashenka: Let them joke about their politicians. Russian channels should joke about them first. However, it turns out that Russian channels only know how to joke about Lukashenka! Joke about Putin and Medvedev! Secondly, I do not know what they clip out. You broadcast ORT programmes on the ONT, do you?

Kisel: Alyaksandr Ryhoravich, let me answer please. We did clip some passages out a few times. But those were insults, not jokes. If the authors insult Putin and Medvedev, we will leave Lukashenka too.

Lukashenka: That’s right. Tell those “comedy clups” or other “lups”: Medvedev-Lukashenka. Then they can joke. But the Russians can only joke about others. But you did not ask me about it. You meant humour and satire. It is okay for me. Ryhor Leanidavich has told the truth. My advice is: you can criticise whoever you like. You can laugh and joke... But never insult anyone personally. Never: this is inadmissible! However, it is okay to joke. I have not heard any jokes about me but if Kisel comes and says: “Alyaksandr Ryhoravich, there is a joke about you”,  I will ask him to tell it. You mentioned some joke about Putin, Bush and Lukashenka in one boat and something was said about elections there. I cannot remember jokes well.

Kisel: I should better not tell it.

Lukashenka: Go ahead. (Laughter. Applause.) Tell us the whole joke.

Kisel: I cannot think of it... Oh... Obama, Lukashenka and Medvedev found themselves in one boat after a plane crash. But nobody wanted to row. Obama says “We are a super power, we are above everyone”. Medvedev says: “We are Russia...”

Lukashenka: A nuclear state.

Kisel: ...A nuclear state... “Lukashenka, go ahead”. Lukashenka says: “Let us vote”. Then you can see Obama and Medvedev rowing and Lukashenka sitting. Obama murmurs: “Dima, I think he has deceived us. There are only three of us in this boat and he has scored four votes”. (Laughter.)

Lukashenka — Euroradio: You can criticise whoever you like and you can joke. But never insult anyone personally. Go ahead and we will see.