Vorychava: Russian influence overshadows future of Belarusian youth

January 15, Pozirk. Marharyta Vorychava, the Belarusian opposition’s youth policy chief, has expressed concern about a Belarusian-Russian youth policy roadmap for 2025–2027, noting that Russian influence overshadows the future of Belarusian youth.

The document emphasizes unified civic-patriotic education and seeks to subordinate young people to the Union State ideology, she told Pozirk.

In this respect, she raised several issues.

Erosion of Belarusian culture: Russian influence may diminish Belarus’ unique identity, marginalizing its language and culture.

Economic dependence: joint professional development programs tie Belarusian youth to the Russian economy, limiting diversification and independence.

Youth policy as control: Russia uses youth policy to mobilize young people around government goals, with the Belarusian National Youth Union (BRSM) supporting war propaganda and ideological power.

Protests and repression: the 2020-2021 protests showed youth participation in political struggle, but independent movements face brutal repression.

Contrast with CoE standards: the roadmap’s priorities contrast with Council of Europe standards, which emphasize democratic participation, inclusiveness and youth empowerment.

The Belarusian education ministry and the Russian agency for youth affairs, Rosmolodezh, signed the road map in Moscow on December 16.

It envisages cooperation in civic-patriotic education, science, culture, employment, sports and tourism, in the information sphere and between pro-government public associations.