There have been many articles in the oppositional press and on blogs attempting to figure out the reasons for Lukashenko’s outward attack on Russia. Some of those posts are expressions of sheer glee, others tend to be more cautious. I find myself in the camp of the latter, as nothing seems to indicate any positive turn for our economy and political climate even if Lukashenko and Putin get more vocal of their long-lasting feud rumored about since the first days Putin was elected. Sometimes, the relations between the two presidents overtly deteriorate, but they continue to play the brotherhood game, because they both need each other.

I agree that one of the most probable causes for Lukashenko’s blast of pugnacity was that he had found new important allies among the non-aligned nations. And he must be feeling more secure confronting the Kremlin’s push to accelerate the integration, alternatively threatening to impose higher gas prices.

Meanwhile, repressions against Malady Front (Young Front), a youth opposition group, continues with a new twist of absurdity. Paval Krasouski, one of the organization’s regional leaders, was arrested as a suspect in organizing a series of blasts in Vitsebsk in fall last year. As reported by TOL blogs, Krasouski was abroad on the day of blasts, and border stamps in his passport confirms it. The guy, who happens to be my old acquaintance, faces capital punishment. Now the regime has done many weird and absolutely lawless things. But I can’t believe they will frame an absolutely innocent person just like that. The world must not just watch from the distance.

The news for today is that Milinkevich announced he would take bull by its horns and initiate a new political movement, For Freedom, which was supposed to be created much earlier with backing of the Council of United Democratic Forces. Well, some might argue here that it had already been launched, but the political parties, as Milinkevich deems, had dawdled wasting time on internal campaigning and petty inner-circle power struggle.

At least publicly none of the party leaders voiced any criticism of the former oppositional candidate’s plan, and to the contrary they saluted his effort to unite nonpartisan activists. But it’s quite easy to guess what they really thought of this.

Will it work? We’ll see, but what saddens me is that again some political struggle triggers creation of a new structure. Our politics so often reminds some wicked clownery or childishness, i.e. struggle of personalities and not of ideologies. How many rightwing and leftwing groups do we have? Two or three for each and every one of us?

Only in this case, I really think Milinkevich could be right in his actions, as it might give some boost to the dormant political climate. For Freedom can become an alternative to the feeble (almost pathetic) parties lacking new members and ideas.