Stop Profaning

We need a system of assistance to Belarusians abroad.

There are such deaths about which it is clear: those around did everything possible to save the person, but failed. But Belarusians Ilya Zheleznyakov and Vladimir Lazarov died differently in Poland. It was quite possible to save them, but it's not even that we failed... It's as if we decided not to really try.

Ilya Zheleznyakov lived in a car after his heart transplant and, according to his acquaintances, even when he asked for help, he often didn't get it. Vladimir Lazarov lived in a homeless shelter, had problems with Polish authorities, and clearly lacked the support he needed from the community. And if the tragedies of these men do not become an impetus for us as a democratically-minded community to reconsider our priorities, I do not know what else could push us to do so.

When I was still living in Belarus, I often wrote about one very characteristic feature of the Belarusian authorities, which spoiled the life of all of us: they did not know how to admit their own mistakes. To admit that they didn't work on something, ignored something, somewhere unjustifiably chose an easier way to look better in the eyes of the international community? They have never done such a thing. And, accordingly, they deprived the society of various opportunities for development. Because in order to fundamentally improve something, one must first recognize that it is not working perfectly. And the bureaucracy couldn't do that, because their hierarchy works as if according to prison rules: you can't show weakness, even if it causes great harm. Many criticized the authorities for their cynicism, because it was obvious that it was not them who were paying the high price for these games, but people from the most vulnerable groups.

Can't admit that people with rare genetic diseases are ignored by the state? Then there is no chance that the state will change policy and start funding the same drugs for SMA. No chance of recognizing that existing domestic violence policies are not good for survivors? Then we shouldn't wait for the relevant laws to be passed. But all this is about Lukashenko's regime, and I so wanted to believe that we would be better off without him! That if we stopped working according to his rules, we would build social support structures, rescue and protect the most vulnerable!

And so, so to speak, 5 years have passed. We have trainings and retreats, leadership schools and projects to preserve cultural heritage, we have exhibitions and film festivals. But there is no developed system of support for our own people who find themselves in a particularly vulnerable situation.

I understand everything: I, too, find it much more pleasant to moderate meetings with Belarusian writers or speak at some events, telling about Belarus, than to explain to a panic-stricken person what options of psychiatric help exist and where to turn with what expectations. Writing instructions and guides was also easier for me than counseling real people in a difficult situation who don't always behave adequately. It's all understandable. But how did it happen that we, as a community, adopted from Lukashenko's regime the very thing for which it was criticized?

Why do we now also not admit our weaknesses and mistakes, detach ourselves from reality, betting on incomprehensible leadership programs and ignoring the humanitarian catastrophe, which is gradually developing and will only get worse with time?

Somehow it happened that we jumped several levels of Maslow's pyramid at once and as a democratic community approached self-actualization, as if forgetting that a noticeable part of our people, far from near-political activism and media, do not have basic needs. They are at the lowest level of this pyramid, and how long they will be able to hold on is unknown.

It seems that the time has come to put the question as a question: either we finally create a system of social support, or stop engaging in profanity. So that there are no illusions. And I address these questions to all democratic forces.

Nasta Zakharevich, Belsat.

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