Belarus: repression, social unrest and uncertain future

Writes Kazimierz Kryzhich

The dictatorship represses society in general and workers' organizations in particular. The repressive and propagandistic apparatus multiplies false accusations of “terrorism” and criminal cases. Lukashenko supports Putin and could drag the country into direct intervention in the war against Ukraine. The economic situation worsens day by day. With the fear of persecution and the deterioration of living conditions, social discontent grows, shaping an uncertain future.

Another horde of large-scale destruction of democratic freedoms is underway, with the liquidation of trade unions. We refer to the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers, to the Independent Union of Miners, chemicals, electrical engineers, transport workers, Builders and other Workers from Belarus, to the Trade Union of Workers of the Radio-Electronic Industry of Belarus, to the Free Trade Union of Belarus, as well as the trade union association«Belarusian Congress of Democratic Unions».

Direct attack on the labor movement

The Supreme Court ruled that“instead of protecting labor and socioeconomic rights” of union members, the leaders and members of these organizations“Took an active part in destructive activities and mass events that violate public order, with massive production of information with extremist content”.The measures aim to prevent"illegal strikes", and one“climbing in society”. To union activists who hold meetings of the union administrative leadership, criminal cases are brought.

Social life is subject to total repression

Labor groups of all media, theaters and museums, kindergartens, schools and universities, polyclinics and hospitals, scientific institutions, industrial and agricultural companies have been purged of dissidents and citizens disloyal to the dictatorship. Until the 23 of August, They have been identified 1.301 people and some 7.000 people are in custody, awaiting trial and sentencing.

False accusations and persecution on social media

The repressive machinery spares no one: or minors, nor to the elderly, nor to the mothers of many children, or cancer patients. The vast majority of trials are held behind closed doors., the most severe articles of the penal code are applied to the defendants, how"treason against the fatherland", "extremism", "terrorism" and others. for a simple"I like it"on social networks, you can suffer several years in a prison camp, not to mention the posts, forwards, participation in protests and their organization.

With the complicity of the media

Once again, as in the days of Stalinism, the country is involved in a wave of political denunciations and state terrorism. Almost every day, pro-government media reports new arrests. Detainees are subjected to physical torture and psychological abuse, are forced to publicly repent before a video camera, admitting their complicity in crimes they did not commit. These videos are broadcast by all television channels, where the regime's propagandists openly call for the creation of concentration camps and the physical destruction of"enemies of the people".

Repression to avoid popular actions

This inappropriate cruelty and sadism of the authorities can be explained mainly by the fear of popular actions for the most serious crimes committed by the dictatorship since August 2020 against the Belarusian people. But the stronger and more ruthlessly the repressive regime operates, the more difficult it is for the state to maintain real economic indicators at the level necessary for the peace of the population.

The economic crisis worsens

The permanent wave of dismissals for political reasons and the mass exodus from the country of the most competent specialists (workers, engineers, scientists, doctors, university professors and others) have already caused the defective work of many companies in the country, a sharp deterioration in the quality of health care and education, the reduction of many social projects and the increase in food prices, the drugs, public services and shortages of basic products. Against the background of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the sanctions imposed, the economic situation is deteriorating rapidly.

A puppet dictator and dependent on the Kremlin

At the same time, distrust of the population grows about the possibility of direct participation of Belarus in the war against Ukraine. As much as Lukashenko denied his complicity in this bloodshed and swore that the Belarusian soldier would never cross the border with Ukraine, your words have no credibility. Until now, the Belarusian army is not involved in hostilities on the Ukrainian front, but the Belarusian dictator provides the Russian aggressor with airfields, training camps, airspace and transport routes. The risk of being drawn into military aggression against Ukraine remains quite high for Belarus.

growing discontent, uncertain future

It is almost impossible to predict how events will unfold further. Society is still in a state of shock at what is happening and practically paralyzed by the constant intimidation actions of the dictatorial regime. These conditions make it extremely difficult for organized struggle, all legal centers of civil interaction have been destroyed. Nevertheless, general discontent grows and will grow, that sooner or later, definitely, will lead to a violent confrontation and will bury the dictatorship. So it has always been and so it will be.