MINSK/MOSCOW - Four years after the protests, a totalitarian big brother state emerged in Belarus, while Belarusians are building democratic Belarus in Vilnius. Is this a model for democrats in countries where the space for democratic action is non-existent: rebuilding the pillars of democracy in a neighbouring country that provides the space to do so?
The Belarusian opposition built a government-in-exile, with ministries drawing up policy plans and even representing Belarus to the EU. The entire free press moved to Lithuania, where they now often have more readers and viewers than before in Belarus itself.
Independent Russian media and NGOs are also stronger than ever, in exile. In Russia itself, anti-war voices are suppressed with draconian punishments.
ONLINE
- Russisch verkiezingswaarnemer Roman Oedot: ‘Big Brother, we houden je in de gaten’, MO*, 16/03/2024.
- De twee Belarussen: bigbrotherstaat versus vrijheid in ballingschap, MO*, 11/06/2024.
- ‘Een vrije pers voor een rechtvaardige samenleving’, MO*, 02/11/2024.