"Gray Cat": Real Leaders Are Being Unleashed

• 27.11.2025, 13:07

Who should be trusted in the Belarusian opposition?

Blogger Dmitry Kozlov ("Gray Cat") told the Ukrainian project bastion.tv about the real heroes of the resistance and the state of Belarusian emigration:

- The situation is complicated. A significant part of the leaders are still in prison, some of them have already been released, others will be released in the near future. It is important to emphasize that we are talking about the real leaders of the protests - those who in 2020 organized actions in different cities of Belarus, have real experience and enjoy authority among people.

On the other hand, only in Lithuania and Poland there are about a quarter of a million Belarusians, most of whom left after the events of 2020. For five years, no one dealt with them; neither the office of Svetlana Tihanovska nor various "coordination councils," "transition offices," and other similar structures were interested in their problems, everyday life, and life. Therefore, some have developed frustration, and I understand them. Those who will be released will have even more questions for these structures. But, as I said, the real leaders who know what to do and how to do, who have been warmed by the dream of a free Belarus all these years and who will definitely fight for their ideals, are released.

- Which of the opposition leaders do you trust?

- First of all, Nikola Statkevich - he proved the principle by refusing to be deported. I can also name dozens of people, patriots of Belarus, who have repeatedly proved their dedication to the cause: Pavel Seviarynets, Maria Kolesnikova, Andriy Sannikov, Natalya Radina, Evgeny Afnagel, Igor Olinevich, Nikolai Autukhovich, Maksim Vinyarsky, Ales Belyatsky, Andrei Voynich. Many other known and unknown heroes are still in prison and awaiting release.

- Who don't you trust?"

- Tihanovska's office. There are several reasons for this:

I believe they were involved in the defeat of the 2020 protests.

They have not achieved any tangible results in five years.

Their activities have alienated ordinary people from politics.

Many scandals: data leaks, incompetent appointments, corruption.

Trying to take credit for other people's accomplishments.

Some opponents of the office, who recently held a meeting in Vilnius, have no better situation - it's not clear who is funding them, and I don't see them doing anything more effective now.

- How can one determine the reliability of political initiatives?"

- One of the main criteria is achieving concrete results. We as bloggers in 2020 set some goals for ourselves and most of them have been accomplished. I can say the same about some of the political structures with which we prepared the street protest together. A reliable person or organization are those who, under any circumstances, go to their goal.