Павел Баркоўскі. Фота: t.me/CabinetBelarus
Representative for national revival of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Barkouski issued a statement regarding the regime’s designation of new “extremist formations” and the persecution of people connected with socio-cultural organisations.
The main goal of the repression is “to create a foothold for the expansion of the ‘Russian world’ and the preservation of a reduced folk culture in the form of the ‘Kharoshki’ ensemble or pro-government creative unions,” the philosopher believes.
“Recently, it has become ‘extremely’ evident that in Belarus the security agencies are waging a real war against Belarusian national identity and culture,” Pavel Barkouski said. “This is manifested in their desire to prohibit Belarusians not only from using their own history and language — which is already becoming genuinely dangerous in a totalitarian country — but also from simply accessing information and resources that help develop Belarusian identity outside state control and in the diaspora.
The Lukashenka regime is even resorting to direct violations of international law and practising cross-border crimes by declaring as ‘extremist formations’ and ‘organisations’ institutions that are registered and operate in EU countries.
Moreover, the aim of their activity is not even politics in the direct sense of the word, but rather the support of language and culture, as in the case of the Belarusian Culture Council, or educational and research activities, as in the case of EHU. Furthermore, individual projects that work to develop specific aspects of this culture or support it with resources are being declared extremist formations — including the Magistrates programme, the ArtPower support programme and the Vasminoh education reform support initiative.
The obvious goal of these measures is to completely isolate Belarusians who remain in the country from contacts with any independent cultural initiatives abroad, turning Belarus into a platform for the expansion of the ‘Russian world’ and the preservation of a reduced folk culture in the form of the ‘Kharoshki’ ensemble or pro-government creative unions. The fact that the regime’s behaviour is not very different from that of the Russian occupation administration in the occupied territories of Ukraine hardly requires proof anymore. Moreover, physical control over the territory is taking place: Russian flags are being hung on residential buildings, and Russians are massively buying apartments in our country.
Belarus is being rapidly turned into the same Crimea, which is being ‘normalised’ through aggressive colonisation and the destruction of local and national identity. Belarusian security agencies are thoroughly infiltrated by agents of Russian influence, for whom the very existence of the Belarusian nation, language and culture is an anomaly and a threat: they would like to ‘return Belarusian territories to their native harbour’ and receive Russian officers’ salaries. This indifference to national history and independence is leading Belarus as a state toward a catastrophic scenario and bringing closer its absorption by a stronger and more aggressive totalitarian machine from the East.
Belarusian culture and identity today are developing not thanks to, but in spite of the actions of the Lukashenka state. The burden of preserving Belarusian identity largely falls on the diaspora, which is forced to seek resources to support what in normal states is financed from the public budget.
Despite the unlawful and violent actions of the regime’s enforcers, the Belarusian nation retains the potential for revival, but precisely as a systemic activity of Belarusian organisations and activists, as well as those who support them at the political level and help secure funding.
The main thing to remember: today, preserving Belarusians as a nation is the task of each and every one of us. Not thanks to, but in spite of. And through personal example. It can begin with speaking Belarusian with your children, enrolling them in Belarusian schools and clubs, listening to Belarusian music, reading Belarusian books and financially supporting projects by Belarusian cultural figures — through tickets or donations.
This is what will allow Belarusians to remain a people and not dissolve silently among other nations. This is our duty to future Belarusians, our obligation to ourselves,” he said.
It was earlier reported by the Viasna human rights centre that in recent days searches and detentions have taken place in various cities of Belarus involving people connected with socio-cultural organisations. It also became known that the Belarusian Culture Council and a number of cultural initiatives have been designated as “extremist formations” in Belarus.
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