Thread: Elections in Belarus

Originally Posted by Eric C.

OMG Hanna, I can't believe my eyes... Have you ever been there? You know, the term of "social democracy" as it's seen in Sweden pretty much differs from how it's seen in Belarus...

Of course I realise that. And no, I haven't been there, but maybe I should add Belarus to my CIS country itinerary this spring. A friend of mine went there for work (she is a journalist, specialising in education). She said the country was in better shape than Ukraine that she also visited.

If somebody credible from Belarus comes here and says his life is a living hell because of Lukashenko's policies and gives some concrete examples, then I'll happily change my mind.

But for the time being I believe that the claims about Lukashenko being an evil dictator are about as true as the statements regarding WMDs in Iraq or the righteousness of the war in Afghanistan. And if I was American I'd worry more about what goes in in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, than in Belarus anyway.

As far as I can make out, over 65% of Belarussians turned out to vote (normal figure). Of those, 80% voted for Lukashenko without any threats coercion or checks.
This is being verified by international observers, most of who would probably love to find something untoward.

Originally Posted by Hanna

If somebody credible from Belarus comes here and says his life is a living hell because of Lukashenko's policies and gives some concrete examples, then I'll happily change my mind.

Oh, it’s me. When I was a student I was interrogated several times by the KGB agents because I went to the “Human rights” conference in Belgium. They asked me for the information about the other participants who were the members of different Belarusian political parties. I didn’t tell them anything. Then the agents blamed me of being linked with FBI and threatened to expel me from the University. I showed no reaction but I was really shocked. Fortunately, I graduated from the University.

After the University I have to work for a state company which is going bankrupt. My salary is $ 200 and it’s too low even in Belarus. But I can’t quit this job because of the so-called “career assignment” that obliges me to work for a state enterprise for 2 years earning $ 200 per month. If I don’t follow the rules I’ll pay a fee (as much as $ 10 000). This is because I got free higher education. I entered the University with better grades than the others and I passed the entrance exams better. I deserved free higher education. Why should I work for the state company like a slave in order to compensate it?

Originally Posted by belarusnews

I deserved free higher education.

Oh, you deserved! Just so! Do you mind if some don't give a sh!t what you deserved? You know, there are a lot of countries (and wealthy ones as well) where there is no such a thing - free higher education. The kids there don't deserve it?

Originally Posted by belarusnews

Why should I work for the state company like a slave in order to compensate it?

I assume there was an option to have paid studying, if so, why didn't you take it? Things have to be paid, FYI. Work off your study and do whatever you want.
Of course that things like disappearing people are atrocious and I don't really know what's going on there but I don't know where's your "living in hell".

Originally Posted by Romik

Oh, you deserved! Just so! Do you mind if some don't give a sh!t what you deserved? You know, there are a lot of countries (and wealthy ones as well) where there is no such a thing - free higher education. The kids there don't deserve it?
I assume there was an option to have paid studying, if so, why didn't you take it? Things have to be paid, FYI. Work off your study and do whatever you want.
Of course that things like disappearing people are atrocious and I don't really know what's going on there but I don't know where's your "living in hell".

I also don't give a sh!t what you desrve. If you think that free higher education in Belarus is a great advantage, you are mistaken. The government don't give a sh!t to students and graduates sending them to villages for "career assignment". You can have a great career if you move to a village from the capital city, can't you? LOL!

Everybody deserves free higher education. But you don't understent that FREE means "without any payment or other kinds of compensation". According to the Constitution of Belarus "everyone has a right for free higher education". "Career assignment" is a violation of the Constitution and everybody's rights for FREE education.

Originally Posted by belarusnews

You can have a great career if you move to a village from the capital city, can't you? LOL!

What can impede you to move back after those 2 years to the capital and do your career? It's not a very long period of time. Do you think, right after the university, without experience, you would be offered the most prestigious jobs?

Originally Posted by belarusnews

Everybody deserves free higher education. But you don't understent that FREE means "without any payment or other kinds of compensation". According to the Constitution of Belarus "everyone has a right for free higher education". "Career assignment" is a violation of the Constitution and everybody's rights for FREE education.

You are a commy, aren't you? In the UK, USA the education is paid and they don't demand it to be free.

Originally Posted by Romik

You know, there are a lot of countries (and wealthy ones as well) where there is no such a thing - free higher education.

Like Belarus. But their regime for some reason is boasting of providing anyone who wishes with free higher education while it's a total lie. So maybe you will be so kind to name this reason?

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Like Belarus. But their regime for some reason is boasting of providing anyone who wishes with free higher education while it's a total lie. So maybe you will be so kind to name this reason?

I see 2 reasons for this:
1. To stop youth from going abroad (brain-drain)
2. The state companies that are going bankrupt need young labor force. So the government forces graduates to work there. The state enterprises (plants, factories etc.) are financially supported by goverment (actually by the taxpayers). If they close large plants (even those that don't bring any profit) a lot of elderly people will lose their jobs and there will be a chaos. So they continue to support unprofitable state companies.

Among the workers of belarusian state plants and factories there are a lot of people who are over 50 (I think 70 - 80 %). But there are very few young specialists.

Another interesting thing:
If you graduated from Pedagogical University, for example, you'll have to work at a school in a village and, perhaps, in Chernobyl area because nobody wants to work there. But a lot of people still live there and they need to be educated.

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Like Belarus. But their regime for some reason is boasting of providing anyone who wishes with free higher education while it's a total lie. So maybe you will be so kind to name this reason?

Do you read their constitution and other rules? I don't. If telling only of the thing itself - I don't think it's unfair to work off that 2 years after unpaid study (I suppose there is some scholarship while it, isn't it?)

Originally Posted by Romik

Do you read their constitution and other rules? I don't. If telling only of the thing itself - I don't think it's unfair to work off that 2 years after unpaid study (I suppose there is some scholarship while it, isn't it?)

So what? If you are a diligent student and get good marks at the exams why not to get a scholarship? By the way, the average scholarship in Belarus is about $40. You may not have the scholarship if you get bad marks, but anyway you'll have to pay the same fee ($10 000 approximately) if you won't work off. Is it fair?

You are a commy, aren't you? In the UK, USA the education is paid and they don't demand it to be free.

The thing is that almost all some of the western universities provide a lot of scholarships to those who study well. So much so that in practice you only have to pay (partially) for your bachelor degree. The master's and ph.d. are in fact free (and you're usually left with some extra money as well). Without any kind of allusion to the "commie" ideology. Indeed, it might make sense for the government to pay for your education if you agree to take on the government job for two years or something like that. However, that situation should not be officially titled the Free Education (TM) as the government gathers tremendous political dividends from that title while, as it turns out, requires their fee in just another way.