With the Freedom Day approaching, the plot gets more and more interesting.
The EU ambassadors declared their desire to come to the Square. (Note, that having invited Milinkevich, they stressed, that they are still treating him as “the main one”).
Some of the European politicians, invited by Milinkevich, have already said they will come to Minsk of the 24th March.
To cut a long story short, some dynamics is there.
Look, how it is.
A year ago the leading upper circles of authorities believed that the main task was to implement the campaign on formal support of the president’s third term in the office.
They didn’t really want to irritate Europe too much.
That’s where such miracles as the daring TV speeches of the opposition candidates (uncensored in the beginning).
Those, who drew to the October square (which they later unofficially renamed into the Kalinouski square) on the evening of the 19th March, awaited the police cordons, sticks, gas, the whole familiar set. But the police made a show of unexpected amicability.
(They simply sealed off the metro station, I personally had to get off at the Main Train station and then go back. A surrealistic picture remained in my memory: the uniformed thugs on the empty floor of the “October metro station” with the little animated devils dancing on the wall behind them – images from a projector.
The brutal outcome of the March events is well-known. But the mere fact, that they have been tolerating the tent camp for several days, proves, that the authorities have stepped on the throat of their own song for a while. They tooth-grinded, but hold their emotions in a fist. Their hands itched, but the tactics of the minor repression was used instead.
But they could barely foresee, that the tension will increase again a year later.
The terms, on which the Freedom Day’2007 will be allowed to take place, is a test for Lukashenka.
It is also a test for those, who present themselves as a political alternative to the regime. It’s time to show the organizer’s talent (you are going to rule the country, guys!) and organize at least one good action together.
You’ll do the “congressing” later.
Alaksandr Klaskouski is the leading political commentator and blogger of “Nasha Niva”.
