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Maxim Milta, head of communication at the European Humanities University (EHU), who observed the protests in Minsk for a month, said that the fact that people were tired of the protests both physically and emotionally cannot be denied. It is said that this fatigue was felt already in the first days of the demonstrations, when thousands of people were arrested.
“But every time more and more different social groups got involved, it gave a certain boost, culminating in big Sunday rallies,” he said.
Scanpix / ITAR-TASS nuotr./Neįgaliųjų maršas Minske
Unlike in the past, this year’s protests are not limited to traditional groups such as the well-to-do residents of Minsk or students. Women, retirees, people with disabilities, protesters and doctors, athletes and employees of the cultural sector also organize their marches separately.
“You cannot deny the emotional fatigue, but the feeling of injustice is very important. If you ask how Belarusians feel today (Friday – ed.), It is a feeling of injustice caused by Bandarenko’s death. ” 15 minutes said Mr. Milta.
Reuters / Photo by Scanpix / Change Square in Minsk after Raman Baradenka’s death
On Thursday, the death of 31-year-old Roman Bandarenko was reported. The young man was beaten and detained when he reached the famous “Change Square” in Minsk, where militiamen in civilian clothes looted white and red stripes. A man suffering from headaches and other injuries died in hospital. Authorities said the man was intoxicated with alcohol, while doctors who examined him claimed, albeit anonymously, that no alcohol had been found in the man’s blood.
On Thursday night, people with flowers and candles flooded the “Plaza de los Cambios” and on Friday thousands of Belarusians paid tribute to R. Bandarenko.
“The news of his death immediately showed the strong solidarity of the exhausted and oppressed nation. What started in Minsk on Thursday is a new wave of solidarity, so fatigue now fades into the background,” said M. Milta.
VIDEO: Seventh weekend of protests in Belarus: thousands of crowds with tear gas, more than 260 arrested
The cold does not affect
As winter approaches, the temperature in Belarus is below 10 ° C during the day. However, Milta does not believe that the cold will demotivate the protesters: “The factors that, according to all logical laws, should stop the determination of the people, are already in sight.
The protests are said to have lasted nearly a hundred days, the school year has begun, and the coronavirus pandemic is on the rise, denial of which was one of the first catalysts to force Belarusians to take to the streets even before the elections.
Managed by Cabbage / Photo 15min / Harina Maxima
“There are many reasons that have had to curb people’s desire to unite and fight for their rights. But the reality is different. Public motivation is not driven by geopolitical determination or an isolated incident, but by a constant demand to restore the right to free elections, as well as a demand for dignity.
And that framework is much more effective than that of the regime and its facilitators. ” 15 minutes joked M. Milta.
According to the EHU Communications Director, so far only two groups in society have not joined the protests: employees of force structures. silovikai and senior officials. It is true that the Belarusian Solidarity Fund has announced that about 600 have already requested help security forceswho have left the service.
Milt says there is no going back.
“Perhaps the protests will take new forms, as Cichanouskaya also spoke, which is welcome. But there are certainly no signs that the protests have collapsed, quite the contrary. “The aggression of the regime against peaceful protesters is the best proof of this,” he said.
More than a thousand people were arrested during protests last Sunday. This level of arrests is equivalent only to the first days after the elections, when some 7,000 people were arrested in a few days. people.
Peaceful identity of protests
According to M. Milta, so far there have been no manifestations of violence by the protesters. The peaceful nature of the protest is said to be one of the most important forms of expression for Belarusians.
“It is very important to discover the factor by which you can be yourself contrast to the other side. These are not only symbols like Vytis, the white-red flag, but also certain behavioral traits.
The regime’s behavior is based mainly on aggression and violence carried out in secret: without uniforms, with identification signs, attacking people in more remote places. The protesters themselves opposite regime through a peaceful behavior, through cleanliness, “he said.
Belarusians carry garbage bags in protest not to leave garbage in the streets and to avoid being discredited by the regime’s propaganda.
The regime’s propaganda, in turn, is largely focused on groups that are stereotypically associated with radical views, such as football fans, anarchists. Yes, according to M. Milta, he is trying to demonstrate the supposedly extremist character of the protesters.
On Friday, the European Union (EU) warned that it could toughen sanctions for Bandarenko’s murder.
VIDEO: Detainees in Belarus spoke of incomprehensible cruelty: “You could hear people being beaten outside all night.”
“This is an inhuman and shameful result of the actions of Belarusian officials,” said Peter Stano, spokesman for the EU diplomat Josep Borrell.
Mass protests in Belarus erupted after the announcement on August 9 that Aliaksandr Lukashenko, who had gathered more than 80 percent, had been reelected president. votes. Already on the first night, the regime greeted the protesters with violence and massive arrests: an estimated 20,000 people have been arrested since the start of the demonstrations. people.
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