{"id":72820,"date":"2024-03-13T19:13:10","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T16:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/72820\/"},"modified":"2024-03-13T19:13:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T16:13:13","slug":"from-proud-people-to-little-folk","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/72820\/","title":{"rendered":"From “proud people” to “little folk”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2020 was the turning point from flattery to negativity in Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s attitude toward the Belarusians.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n
\n\n Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka cheering up internal troops in front of the Independence Palace in Minsk during a peaceful mass demonstration on August 23, 2020\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (BelTA video screengrab)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this week, he blamed Belarusians: “Our people sometimes demand from the government what the government should not do. Well, that’s the people, that’s the nation, and we won’t have any other people – that’s clear.” The last sentence was not quoted on \u0141uka\u0161enka’s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler has had rocky relations with Belarusians during his 30-year reign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flattery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the early years of his presidency, when the economy was on the rise, he enjoyed popular support and cast himself as a president with the common touch. Any dictator claims to represent common people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time, \u0141uka\u0161enka knew well that he must lavish praise on ordinary people to win their support, so he endowed them with exceptional qualities and portrayed them as the embodiment of true morality, justice and goodness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I believe that nothing can drive a wedge between the president and the people who elected him,” he said in 1996.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was elected by the Belarusian people, the wisest people on the planet,\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka boasted in 1999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our opponents did not take into account the most important thing – the indomitable, freedom-loving and proud character of the Belarusian people,\u201d he said after the 2006 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBelarusians united and made an independent choice in favor of peace, stability and prosperity, showing the highest moral spirit and patriotism of independent, self-respecting people. Such a nation deserves admiration and the highest respect.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From praise to contempt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But over time, his attitude has changed. \u0141uka\u0161enka has lost his appeal and public support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September 2013, talking about a shortage of foreign cash, he said indignantly, “But in recent months I see that our little folk have been running to exchange offices.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, he instructed officials how to treat people: “Don’t allow rudeness to people, because there are many complaints. Don’t push them away. We don’t have any other people, and our people are not that bad.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, the wise and proud Belarusian people turned into a “little folk” and “not that bad” people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2020 saw even more dramatic change in his attitude. He described hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who protested election fraud as drug addicts, prostitutes, unemployed criminals, stoned and drunk people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n
\n\n Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka addressing his supporters at Minsk Arena on September 17, 2021\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (\u0141uka\u0161enka's website)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In his eyes, all those who oppose him do not represent the people protected by law. They are deprived of their rights, they can be jailed, beaten and tortured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regime dreads citizen self-organization<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the year 2020, Belarusians organized themselves. In a short time, they set up neighborhood and courtyard communities, chats and social media groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They united, coordinated campaigns in their neighborhoods, held meetings, concerts and tea parties in their backyards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sundays they participated in demonstrations together. In those historic days, Belarusians showed miracles of self-organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n
\n\n Demonstrators marching in Minsk\u2019s Zavodski district on December 6, 2020\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Wikimedia Commons \/ Homoatrox)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That is exactly what scared the government. It does not need such people, so it resorted to reprisals to disrupt self-organization, solidarity and horizontal ties, especially on digital platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the communities and chats were crushed and their leaders were arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complaining that he had bad luck with the people, \u0141uka\u0161enka has recently ordered his executive branch to use its administrative muscle to raise donations for road repairs and recruit volunteers for neighborhood betterment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2020 was the turning point from flattery to negativity in Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s attitude toward the Belarusians. Earlier this week, he blamed Belarusians: “Our people sometimes demand from the government what the government should not do. Well, that’s the people, that’s the nation, and we won’t have any other people – that’s clear.” The last sentence […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":65113,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-72820","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom "proud people" to "little folk" | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"2020 was the turning point from flattery to negativity in Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka's attitude toward the Belarusians. 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