Women become a symbol of change in Belarus

Not everyone agrees with his family, especially when it comes to politics. Freedom for heated exchanges at dining room tables is the foundation of a democracy.

Despite the differences, these debates can end with an exhausted “pass the mash” and raising your eyebrows (or in the case of Donald Trump, above your head).

But for Katia Lysionak, she is struggling to make that healthy match a reality.

“My family is really divided, which is fine, right? People have a right to have a say. That is what we hope to see, a country where a variety of opinions can be expressed, heard and discussed,” he said.

The Belarusian woman, who has lived in Ireland for the past five years, has become part of an opposition movement against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following her disputed re-election this month.

Yet his parents “passionately” endorse the man who has been in power for 26 years.

“They think I am contributing to the riots. That I am contributing to nationalist ideas to further divide society,” said Katia, who has been organizing demonstrations against him and his government in Dublin.

His mother and father have also warned: don’t come home soon.

“I asked them if they think it is safe for me to go back right now and visit them. And as much as they are supporters of the government, they admitted that they would not recommend that I go back and visit them soon. They themselves do not think I would be safe crossing the border and visiting. added.

With a Belarusian flag hanging around her neck, Katia is one of the ‘Women in White’: peaceful protesters with flowers and dressed in red and white, demanding political change in Belarus while launching a violent crackdown on protesters.

His appearance stands in stark contrast to the black bulletproof vest uniforms worn by Alexander Lukashenko, 65, while brandishing assault rifles, describing those against him as ‘rats’ and ‘sheep’ influenced by foreign powers.

Women have become a symbol of the opposition movement in Belarus, not only on the streets but also in high places.

It all started when the presidential elections began this summer in Belarus. when male opponents of Mr. Lukashenko were arrested and blocked from the race.

One of them was popular YouTube blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, who tried to register as a candidate but was arrested.

Honestly from having no prior political experience, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya took her husband’s place in hopes of highlighting their situation.

However, the former English teacher’s candidacy took on new meaning, drawing crowds of supporters not seen in decades.

Among his sponsors were two other disqualified opposition candidates; Viktor Babaryko and Valery Tsepkalo. Barbarkyo’s campaign manager, Maria Kolesnikova, and Tsepkalo’s wife, Veronika, also joined the movement, helping Ms. Tikhanovskaya with her bid.

The trio became an unexpected force against Lukashenko, something he rejected due to his gender.

“Our constitution is not for women. Our society has not matured enough to vote for a woman. This is because, by constitution, the president has a lot of power,” she said at the time.

Katia Glod, a non-resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said underestimating the power of women was Lukashenko’s “biggest mistake”, in particular, not taking Svetlana Tikhanovskaya seriously.

“They didn’t realize that she was going to be such a strong and impressive candidate, that she would be able to rally the support of many layers of society, that she would be a symbol, that she would be as direct and a great communicator like her.” it has proven to be, “she said.

As elections intensified, so did threats against women. Ms. Tikhanovskaya sent her children, with their grandmother, out of the country for protection.

Gender aside, the other surprising element was the formation of an opposition coalition, previously known to clash with each other.

“For the first time, very quickly, we saw a broad spectrum of united opposition and there were women at the forefront. That is definitely what the authorities did not expect before,” Ms Glod said.

As elections intensified, so did threats against women. Ms. Tikhanovskaya sent her children, with their grandmother, out of the country for protection.

During the July election cycle, Amnesty International also reported that women were being targeted by the authorities in “gender-specific” ways in the run-up to the elections.

“Some examples include threats from the authorities to take the children of these women into the custody of the state, or threats of sexual violence against them,” said a report by the human rights organization in July.

On the day of the vote, Veronika Tsepkalo fled Belarus.

The election results would give 80% of the vote to Mr. Lukashenko, figures that were condemned by the EU and the US Both described the election as neither free nor fair, with the European Union threatening to impose harsh sanctions for accusations. vote manipulation.

Ms. Tikhanovskaya was the next to leave the country, traveling to Lithuania after being briefly detained. She later explained that she made the “very difficult decision” to leave because of her children.

Demanding changes and new elections, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Belarus. It soon turned into chaos.

At least two protesters have died and thousands have been jailed, many of whom came out of detention complaining of being beaten and abused. There have also been several strikes in state factories over the treatment of protesters.

Also in Dublin there have been peaceful demonstrations, in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines.

In one of them this week, Belarusian Art Balenok hugged his daughter Anna and said that he “cannot sleep” with everything that is happening right now.

Balenok, who has been in Ireland for 18 years, said he doesn’t feel safe traveling to his birthplace at the moment, but looks forward to the day when he can bring his daughter for a visit.

“But not now,” he added.

There, in solidarity, was also Olga Kiseleva, a native of Moscow.

“I was born in May 1994 and Lukashenko was elected President of Belarus in July 1994 and since then I have not seen any other President of Belarus … It is difficult to see him from here,” he said.

Ms Kiseleva said that women are underrated in her culture, but thanks to the online world, their voices are beginning to be heard and platforms provide a powerful tool for women to become role models.

In Belarus, Maria Kolesnikova is the only one of the trio to remain in Belarus, and she continues to campaign for free and fair elections, telling the media that she will not go anywhere.

Two other leaders have also been arrested: Olga Kovalkova and Sarhei Dyleuski, who led strikes at the Minsk tractor factory.

The duo are heads of the opposition Coordination Council that was created last week with the stated aim of starting negotiations with the government.

The Coordinating Council includes female figures from many sectors of society, including Svetlana Alexievich, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, who was also questioned about the group.

Lukashenko said the council is an illegal attempt to seize power and prosecutors have launched a criminal case against him.

What the future holds for the country is uncertain, said Katia Glod, as Lukashenko is not a politician who normally “makes concessions or compromises.”

Glod, who returned from Belarus on Wednesday, said protesters are now realizing that their move will be a marathon and not a sprint.

For Katia Lysionak, she hopes that one day the Belarusian authorities will listen to the protesters, the country’s neighbors and the rest of the world about the dialogue.

However, he sighs as he tries to assess how long it will take.

“I’m hopeful. Is it realistic? I don’t know,” he said.