Dal sito della European Cultural Foundation

Voices for Change

by Giovanni Angioni, journalist, October 2007

October 14th 2007 is a day that many Belarusians hope will become more and more important in their history: on that day, thousands of citizens decided to show their support for 12 proposals that would make a real difference in relations between Belarus and the EU.

These are the 12 proposals which the EU has asked the government of Belarus to accept and implement. And, as normally happens in countries where democracy is more a mere word than a concrete concept, this has been an important occasion for the opposition.

Those opposed to President Lukashenka are using the October demonstration as a preparation for something that could affect the destiny of this strategic gateway between Russia and Europe.
“It's just a step, the first of a long process that will change our country,” says Natalia Koliada of the Free Theatre, one of the intellectual symbols of a new, rising Belarus.
Speaking from the comfortable ‘London Café’ just opposite KGB headquarters, she goes on to say that “Although we expected to gather some more people in the streets, I have to say that we managed to reach an important goal as, for the first time, people decided to take a clear position towards the European Union.”

Like her husband Nikolai, Natalia has spent time in jail, and their activities mean that they are always in danger of being sent there again. Are they afraid of that?
Natalia answers: “This being constantly under control can be somehow scary, it’s true. But you might also reach a point when it becomes almost funny, if you forgive me for this dark humour. Having them around you all the time means that nothing bad is going to happen to you, especially when they follow you by car on the way back home late at night! You know, we even had asylum offers in other countries and I'm sure we could even get free tickets from the government for leaving the country. It’s just that this does not work for us. We first have to work for our country.”

Franak Viachorka is another of the main exponents of the modern Belarusian critical conscience. He's young and terribly busy, like any young guy in the West who cares about his career. But unlike any guy of the same age in the EU, he is getting used to daily threats. “Once they told me that the President wouldn’t come here for the opening of a new building just because of me and my activities. And they did it without even mentioning his name, they don't name him. They just point a finger at one of the pictures of him we now have to have in every institute.”
While drinking a Pepsi a few steps from the President building, Franak explains how something is finally moving in his country. “Some people inside the institutions are getting closer to us, slowly preparing for the time after Lukashenka. I don't know if they really want democracy, what is sure is that they realise that no government can last forever. They are trying to find a way out, a way to survive the change.” “Let's say that this march has been a test,” he goes on. “Either a way to keep alive the inner feeling of protest that some people have or to get them ready for something bigger. In a couple of days we will have the social march which will bring other people onto the streets again, but next year will be an even more important one for our country, you will see it in March already.”

But if something is moving inside those beautiful, solemn and absurdly illuminated Minsk buildings, this is not necessarily completely positive for all. Iryna Vidanava, a journalist who risks spending six years in jail, comments: “I don't know, we shouldn't bring people onto the streets if nothing follows after. It's risky because people could feel betrayed, get sick of risking something for nothing. Personally, this time I thought about not going, but then I couldn't bring myself not to go and I participated. They have already closed down my magazine, saying that it was printed with dangerous ink and, lately, we had to move three times because every time the police get to know where we are, then we have to change address.” “

The European Union is important to us, of course,” she continues. “Do we have any other choice? What would happen to us if we stayed out? But I would like people to get more informed of what the Union actually is.”

There is one point on which all of those I spoke to agree: what they expect from the European Union.
Franak Viachorka explains why the EU should start considering Belarus as an interesting economic partner: “They should realise that for every euro they invest in freeing Belarus, they will soon get ten back. People here work hard; they are all expecting something from us, something that could save lives and help end what is now widely considered as the last dictatorship in Europe and what I experienced as a way of life that cannot be accepted silently in 2007 anymore.”

They all want our support. Our help.

Are we ready to give it?

View the photos Giovanni made in Minsk during his stay: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20857&l=dfa3c&id=515163342