Yury Chavusau: Belarusian “liberalization” is demonstration and conjuncture

• 28.01.2009, 11:21

What we call “liberalization” in Belarus has a character of conjuncture, politologist Yury Chavusau thinks.

On December 31, Andrei Vardamatski, director of Novak Sociological Laboratory, and Yaraslau Ramanchuk, director of Strategy Analytical Centre, were invited to a “working group” formed by the government allegedly for marketing development in the country.

On January 16, head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhanna Litvina, editor-in-chief of “Narodnaya Volya” Iosif Syaredzich, and editor of “Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi” Alena Mironava received an official proposal to join the “public coordination council in mass media sector”.

A “council on human rights” is being forming by the Lukashenka’s Administration. Representatives of Belarusian Helsinki Committee public association were invited to the council on January 26.

Independent newspapers “Nasha Niva” and “Narodnaya Volya” were allowed to the official distribution network. At the same time Radio Racyja was denied accreditation, Belsat satellite TV has faced similar problems. Oppositionists, among them students, still suffer pressure. A scandal round forceful call-up of Franak Vyachorka, head of “The Youth of BPF”, and Ivan Shyla, one of the leaders of the “Young Front”, gains momentum.

According to politologist Yury Chavusau these positive changes have conjuncture character.

“These changes have conjuncture character. We can’t see irreversible changes. What can be considered irreversible actions? Let’s read, for example, article 193 of the Criminal Code, providing punishment for activity on behalf of unregistered organizations,” Chavusau noted. “Including of famous persons of the civil society into public councils and commissions is just a demonstration... It’s too early to say these commissions will cause changes in the state policy.”