According to this year’s Freedom House media freedom index, Belarus retained its ignominious 185th position and a status of the country with an unfree press. Moreover, the respected U.S. institution remarked the situation in Belarus’ media realm deteriorated. The moribund independent newspapers cannot yet recuperate after the clampdown, and there is no sign of the regime’s mitigation. So today Lukashenka said to Putin that he would “do without a couple thousands of oppositionists.” He elaborated that, globally speaking, those people (the opposition) were important to him, but if they kept on adhering to the other position, he would be able to keep powers in his hands.
Lukashenka’s hotheaded words are always fun, but Putin’s reaction is distressing, although expected – he said he was pleased that his colleague was apt to conduct a constructive work with everyone. Well, maybe the same “constructive” approach Mr. Putin employed toward oppositional businessmen like Khodorkovsky, the media, and civil society which is becoming weaker from day to day.
The constructive approach is well employed on the Belarusian soil – both presidential candidates who dared to rival Lukashenka are now in jail.
And yet, the opposition is preparing for the next street rally set for May 1. I have doubts it will be a mass event, but structures of the civil society are trying to disseminate the information about the action. It is hard. Number 185, remember?