Milinkevich Update
In the last three days there were some pretty good news for our main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich:
1. Council of Europe
Milinkevich was invited to PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) where he delivered a good solid speech to the members of the assembly.
(Milinkevich in French: ) “Can the election be free in a situation where criticism of the authorities is considered to be an attack against the state? And, since January this year, it is considered a criminal act. Can [the election] be free in a country where independent radio and television do not exist? A year ago, the country’s president violated the constitution and organized a referendum, which allowed him to be candidate for a third term in office. Neither we, nor democracies all over the world, recognize this referendum.”
An official representative of Belarus, a friend of Lukashenka Uladzimir Kanaplyou, speaker of the Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of the Belarusian Parliament, was also invited to Strasbourg. He said:
(Kanaplyou in Russian: ) “I can assure you that there will be no revolution in Belarus — not an orange one, or a denim one, or any other kind. The people simply will not support it… We cannot understand — or probably, we can understand — why you are attacking the Belarusian Republic. The situation in our country is no worse that in other regions — it may even be better. Maybe it’s because we’re not getting down on our knees before the [United] States? And what if we do get on our knees, what would Europe gain in such a case?”
It’s worth noting that Russian representative Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky yelled loudly from his place, when Milinkevich started his speech: “Hey, speak in Russian, not in French!”
And then his microphone was turned off.
2. EU Media Support
EU after all promises to launch its media support before the presidential elections. Speaking before the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in Brussels yesterday, External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the European Commission has decided to award 2 million euros ($2.45 million) to a German-led consortium to begin independent media broadcasts into Belarus ahead of the elections.
“I’m delighted to announce that the final decision has been taken on the 2 million euro media project for broadcasting into Belarus, and the successful consortium — led by a German company and including Polish, Lithuanian, European Union, Belarusian, and Russian partners — will use existing infrastructure and thus guarantees to begin broadcasting next month,” Ferrero-Waldner said. “That means, prior to the March elections.”
3. Poland. President
On January 25, Milinkevich met with the Polish president, and he promised full support. Lukashenka’s foreign ministry already reacted angrily, calling it “a clear interference with internal affairs of a sovereign state.”
4. Poland. Parliament
Also on January 25, Milinkevich delievered a speech in the Polish Parliament, Sejm. He became the first Belarus citizen ever to be granted this privilege. After that, he also met with the speaker of the parliament who promised his full support in bringing democracy to Belarus. Afterwards, Milinkevich went to Warsaw University where he read a lecture as an honorary guest.
5. Poland. Radio
Today Polish announced that, in addition to EU support, they’ll launch their own radio for Belarus — Radio Racja (Radyjo Racyja). They promise to go on air within 2-3 weeks.
6. Skrabiec is out of the race
Presidential candidate Siarhiej Skrabiec said he’s stepping down.
7. Pazniak is out too
Zianon Pazniak said he’s not going submit the signatures, so it means he’s stepping down. Instead, he’s proposing some crazy idea of “Popular vote”.
8. Travels in the Regions
Milinkevich already got back from Strasbourg and continues his travels, visiting towns and villages all across Belarus.
His rating keeps growing.
January 27th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
In Fact this are really Good news, we will have a lot of suspense what will happen in Minsk after elections, because for sure Lukashenka will win with 75 % , and i trully bealive that votes will be honest votes, my serious question is definitly will happen something after March Elections? … i really hope yes, till there i will support as far as i can Alexander Milinkevich, for a Belarus democratly inclued in Europe.
Gil
January 27th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
It’s hard to say who’ll win when no one counts the votes.
The only tool remaining are exit-poll surveys. And maybe even that will not be available on March, 19.
Btw, on October 17, 2004 official result 78% of voters voted “yes!” for Lukashenka’s changes to the Constitution. Yet, Gallup Survey, which is a very serious organization, calculated on the basis of exit polls that 48% voted “yes!” which was NOT enough (he needed over 50%).
January 31st, 2006 at 7:12 pm
There have been a number of good reports here also about Milinkevich (hope everyone will forgive me for constantly spelling his name wrong lol) including interviews, reports from him addressing the EU parliament, Polish support and so on. However there was also some worrying, yet not surprising news from I believe EU election monitors that there are already plans being made to have Milinkevich kicked out of the elections / country based on some rule or something (forgot the exact details sorry).
It is well known that the changes made to the Constitution were fraudulent. Many many polls and surveys were done and none ever got beyond 55% “yes”. To be honest, I even think that the majority of these results are far from accurate, considering that if “people” found out that they voted no (or wanted to), they would lose their job… or worse. In my opinion a Constitution should never never be changed. I’m interested of any other Constutition in the world has ever been altered (in the benefit of one man I might add)?
I’m sorry that at this time I am unable to capture a number of interesting video feeds from Euronews on this [Belarus and Milinkevich] subject at this time due to not having any form of internet access.
February 17th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
interesting blog as always, I’ve been following for a while now but havent left any comments. I’m v. concerned with situation in Belarus and am trying to look more closely at the role/responsibility of the EU (within the neighbourhood policy matrix??)….am particularly disappointed with the reaction to the suggested “travel ban black lists” where only top officials are forbidden free movement…however there is a certain logic since one can never know who “the party” have sent to represent the opposition. But thats all beside the point, I’m a student with an interest in the future of our new neighbours - and I’d like to know how you feel EU could positively make a difference in Belarus…. also, a few questions:
do you think that democracy is the ultimate and most desireable goal in Belarus?…(that all good things will follow)
do you think that civil society, or global civil society has a role to play in that ‘democratisation’ process?
also, as mentioned: how the EU could positively make a diff.?
thanks for your wonderful blog
A.A.
A.A.
email: aakhmatova@gmail.com
February 17th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
Anna Akhmatova: Thanks for your comment! Just curious, is it your real name or just a crazy coincidence? ;)
> the role/responsibility of the EU (within the neighbourhood policy matrix
I didn’t study each “neighbourhood” document in detail, but I’ve looked through them and “action plans.” And I think it is a kind of document that assumes that both sides are cooperating, that the other party is actually interested in working with EU and brining their country closer to EU standards.
This is definetely not the case with Belarus. So I don’t think the current system of “neigbourhood” policies will have any future in EU-Belarus relations.
> do you think that democracy is the ultimate and most desireable goal in Belarus?…(that all good things will follow)
> do you think that civil society, or global civil society has a role to play in that ‘democratisation’ process?
That’s a fundamental question. In my opinion, the answer is “yes”, especially in case of Belarus, the country which once (as a Grand Duchy of Lithuania) had one of the first really democratic constitutions (written in Old Belarusian). Belarus definetely belongs to the European context. It was taken out of it by the Russian empire for 200 years. But it wasn’t sufficient to make us totally Russified.
As for other countries, this is a hard call. Should democracy be forced unto Iraqis? Or not?
> how you feel EU could positively make a difference in Belarus
> how the EU could positively make a diff.?
In the current situation, I see three key issues:
1) To simplify EU visa procedures for Belarusians and make visas cheaper. I don’t think there’s a danger of immigration. But then there’ll be much more contacts between simple Belarusian citizens and EU.
2) To give more support for free media. That 2-million project could be good, but it’s too little, too late. I hope they’ll have more substantial support, some really good satellite TV channel and radio and a website. Maybe, they could sponsor newspapers and magazines (but it would be extremely difficult to “smuggle” them into the country).
3) Give all their support to the united opposition candidate A.Milinkevich. There’s only one month left before the elections.
http://www.br23.net/en/2006/02/17/milinkevich-is-registered/
I think of these three points, they did only the last one (by inviting him and having very serious high-level meetings with him). But they totally dismissed the idea of simplifying visa application process, and they did very-very little regarding media support.
February 4th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Thanks for sharing