Authorities imitate dialogue with opposition youth

An extensive delegation of the Belarusian Republican Union of Youth (BRUY) and local authorities arranged a meeting with activists of Malady Front of Saligorsk. The meeting lasted for an hour and a half.

The authorities were eager to get acquainted with the young oppositionists, asked about their interests and plans for further education. A wide range of topics was discussed during the conversation.

Brothers Ivan and Illia Shyla, Hrystsina Samoilava, Rygor Astapenia, and Andrus Tychyna, as well as their parents, represented Malady Front at the meeting. The official party was equally outstanding: the head of the youth department of Minsk region, the BRUY second secretary for Minsk region, the head of ideology and education departments of Saligorsk district executive committee, the head of the youth department of Saligorsk district executive committee, the youth office authority for Saligorsk district, police inspector for minors of Saligorsk district interior department Maj. R.Tratseuski, as well as the headmasters, social teachers and form-masters of the schools that the young activists attend. The meeting was held in Saligorsk School #4.

As Ivan Shyla told the press-service of Malady Front, the meeting lasted for an hour and a half, and different issues were discussed there:

“I wouldn’t call it a fruitful dialogue. Local authorities, as they said, just wanted to get acquainted with us. They asked about the goals of our activity, plans for further education. They didn’t intend to change our views; nor did they try to understand us. They claimed our activity illegal and asked if we knew about it. Such questions were left with no replies. They also said it was their initiative to organize the meeting. They said our branch is one of the most active, and that’s why they came to Saligorsk.”

Democratic forces representative from Saligorsk Aliaksei Valabuyeu commented on the meeting:

“As far as I know, the meeting had nothing to do with a dialogue. It was more someone’s order to imitate a dialogue, since neither part made any definite proposals. It wasn’t a round table discussion with equal speakers debating the issues set. Nevertheless, this is obviously a positive sign. Authorities see how influential Malady Front is, and cannot tame it using force. The aggravating economic situation in the country makes authorities search for a solution, hence other similar measures can be expected.”