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Dzmitry Bandarenka: ‘Voters’ Strike’ Serves As Good Example For Belarusians

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Dzmitry Bandarenka: ‘Voters’ Strike’ Serves As Good Example For Belarusians
Dzmitry Bandarenka

Joint struggle against the regimes and mutual support will ensure new relations between Belarus and the Russian Federation soon.

Coordinator of the “European Belarus” civil campaign, former political prisoner Dzmitry Bandarenka told this in an interview for the website Charter97.org, commenting upon the all-Russian “Voters’ Strike”:

- There is an opinion that Putin learned a lot from the Belarusian ruler, as Lukashenka became a dictator in his own country much earlier. I think that the Russian democrats are following the footsteps of the Belarusian opposition in some way.

If previously Alexey Navalny used to speak about the necessity to participate in the elections at any price, now he realized that there are certain boundaries after which the participation in the elections becomes senseless for the opposition. In particular, when there are no alternative candidates at presidential “elections”.

On the other hand, the Belarusian opposition also needs to learn from their Russian colleagues, from Navalny’s team, to learn creativity and new approaches when organizing political campaigns.

I’d like to stress that the “Voters’ Strike” in many Russian towns and cities is a very powerful and successful action. It’s good that, in the Russian Federation, despite the flag-waving, “Crimeaisours” and stuff, there are many people who realize the necessity to defend the democratic values and the people’s right to fair and honest elections.

PHOTO: TWITTER / @TEAMNAVALNY

- The Russian democrats always spoke in support of the Belarusian opposition. Boris Nemtsov, Viktor Shenderovich. In your opinion, how can Belarusians show their solidarity?

- I represent the civil campaign “European Belarus”. Our coordinator Maxim Viniarski participated in several actions of the Russian opposition at a time. And I know he wasn’t the only one.

Belarusian democrats specially arrived to Russia to participate in the opposition actions. Simultaneously, those Belarusians who are citizens of the Russian Federation or work in this country, took part in the protests. Very often, our national white-red-white flags are seen during the Russian opposition actions.

MAXIM VINIARSKI IN MOSCOW

It is widely known that Belarusian journalists and human rights defenders supported the democratic forces and the opposition in Russia. I know how important it is on my own example.

When I was in prison, many Russia’s key figures - artists, journalists, musicians, writers - stood for the defense of myself and many other Belarusian political prisoners. In particular, Boris Grebenschikov, Yuri Shevchuk, Chulpan Khamatova, Olga Romanova, Dmitry Muratov... Everyone remembers how, unfortunately, now-deceased Evgeniy Evtushenko supported his friend and colleague Uladzimir Niakliaeu. This was a great support for us at that time.

- In Russia, people from absolutely different strata of the population, many young people came to protest. How can the “Voters’ Strike” in Russia affect the situation in our country?

- I am sure that these processes are interrelated. It is obvious that last year's protests of outraged Belarusians in our country influenced the situation in Russia. The Internet has no borders, and young Russians, who do not watch propagandistic channels, live on the Web. They see what is happening in the neighboring countries. It is visible even by geography, the approaches, that something from the Belarusian protests was used.

Our own opposition will benefit from the experience of Aleksey Navalny and the Russians in using modern means of communication, organizing protests, using new media and technical means to conduct political and public campaigns. Here, the Russians and Navalny team are ahead. The “Voters’ Strike” serves as an excellent example for Belarusians.

I would also like to add that even during the uprising in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus against tsarism in 1863-1864, there was the slogan “For our and your freedom!”. Historians say that about 500 tsarist soldiers and officers then went over to the side of the insurgents. In Russia, many educated people with conscience welcomed the uprising.

It seems to me that this slogan “For our and your freedom!” is more relevant than ever today. We hope that the experience of joint support and struggle will guarantee that with the change of power in Russia, and this will inevitably happen, the new generation will be free from the “imperial syndrome”.

Belarusians understand that we cannot go anywhere geographically, Russia will always be our neighbor. But we hope that the people who have the experience of fighting for

their own freedom, who, like us, have gone through prisons, camps, beatings, the pressure of the authorities, will better understand the Belarusians, who will also become the new power in their country.

Joint struggle against the regimes and mutual support will ensure new relations between our countries soon.

DZMITRY BANDARENKA IN MINSK
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