Statement by Union of Belarusians Abroad :: Charter'97 :: News

On March 12 the Union of Belarusians Abroad held an action of solidarity with the Belarusian People’s March in Prague. The Union’s members visited the offices of international organizations, headquartered in Prague, delivering their statement, which you may read underneath.

“On 12 march the opposition forces of Belarus are undertaking a series of actions under the slogan “How much longer can we cope with this!”. This slogan is directed against the oppressive regime of Alexander Lukashenka, who since 1994 has taken Belarus into a swamp of unemployment, poverty, national oppression and humiliation.

The average salary in Belarus is $70. This is not even enough to buy meet for a daily meal. Even this miser is being delayed for months, so people literally starve and freeze in their apartments. Enormous amounts of money are thrown away on massive celebration shows organized by the state to glorify the “Eastern Slavonic unity”, and on internal military forces, while ordinary people can barely afford basic needs: food and clothing.

The president and his circle behave like invaders on an occupied territory – corruption with the blessing from the top authorities has paralyzed the state apparatus at all levels. People are being held under control by brutal force and blackmail: those who disagree, ordinary people as well as popular politicians and journalists are being intimidated, beaten, jailed or assassinated. Religious freedom, which Belarus has traditionally been known for, has been abolished: by president’s decree Eastern Orthodox Church has occupied the position of a monopoly state religion. Hundreds of thousands Catholics, Protestants and Muslims have basically been declared a sect, with no right to freely exercise their religion.

Belarusian language is being methodically driven out of the official procedures. Every year tens of Belarusian schools are being shut down, Belarusian writers, singers and teachers are being oppressed and forced into exile.

We, Belarusians living abroad declare solidarity with our people who struggle against these inhuman conditions back home. How much longer can this situation be tolerated!”