The Congress of Democratic Forces is now over. This was a hot weekend in Belarus with temperatures running higher than 30 C. The similarly stuffy atmosphere was also in the hall of the Minst Car Plant.
Instead of uniting the oppposition, the Congress only made the division more obious.
Aliaksandr Milinkevich (in the foreground) called for a strategy of active resistance to the regime of Lukashenka.
The coalition of the opposition parties (Siarhey Kaliakin, leader of the dissenting communists, can be seen in the background) proposed the strategy of evolution, not revolution.
From now on the „united leader“ of the „united opposition“ has 4 faces, which represent the major oppposition parties. As Viktar Harbachou, one of the Congress participants remarked, „The opposition has many chiefs, but few indians“.
Aliaksandr Milinkevich chose to go his own way, refusing to participate in the new coalition scheme. He promises to center his efforts on the newly-established opposition movement „For freedom“, which appointed him its leader.
Aliaksandr Milinkevich is backed by Paval Sevyarynets (to the left – on the photo, not in political sense) and Mikola Statkevich (to the right). These both political prisoners were released shortly before the Congress in an unexpected move by the Lukashenka regime.
The older generation seemed to favour the „evolutionary“ way, the younger cheered for Milinkevich. Pay a closer attention to these faces and then take a look at the photo below. Do you recognize these guys?
This photo is taken today, the next day after the Congress. These are the activists of the opposition youth oraganization “Young Front”. They are shown heading to the court, in order to be sued for allegedly participating in the „non-registered” organization. 5 young people, all 16 to 21 years old (including the young lady in the centre), were threatened with the 2-year-long terms in prison. Nevertheless, they refused to flee the country, and couragesously came to the court. About 400 people came to support them – almost just as many, as the Congress has gathered.
Nevertheless, Aliaksandr Milinkevich was the only major opposition politician, who came to show his support to the young people. Unfortunately, the new leaders of the “united opposition” have failed to step over their ambitions and to stand up for the youngsters.
The process of “Malady Front” will most likely finish tomorrow. Now it is clear, that the punishment will be less hard than expected– fines up to $7 225 each (the average monthly salary in Belarus is something about $ 300), or obligatory work.
More photos from the Congress here
More photos of the “Malady Front” process here
Mr. Octopus, Photos by Julia Darashkevich and Andrey Liankevich
