Thread: Elections in Belarus

Hi, people. I live in Brest. I want to write some words about elections in our country, previous, current, and as it looks like - next.
I know nothing about candidates. How are they? What is their policy? What have they already done for the country? How they want to rule the country without understanding of situation, skills and practice?
They always scrumbles out from somewhere before elections, and hiding after it. If they are real opposition, why do they do nothing? Они хотят стать президентом не слезая с печи.
And I should notice that may be this situation is usual in Western Countries, when prime-minister or president is a signboard of certain group of people, who has the same political course. But in our country president is the person who decide everything, others are just advicers.

Thanks for reading this, and correct my mistakes please.

Originally Posted by Khomitchuk D.V.

Hi people. I live in Brest. I want to write some words about elections in our country, the previous, current, and as it seems - the next one.
I know nothing about the candidates. Who are they? What is their policy? What have they already done for the country? How are they going to rule the country without understanding of the situation, skills and practice?
They have always shown up from somewhere before each election, and hidden after it. If they are real opposition, why have they been doing nothing?
And I should note that maybe this situation is common in the Western Europe(probably), when a prime-minister or president is a representative of some group of people who have the same political views. But in our country the president is the person who decides everything, the others are just advisers.

So, what's your point here? Do you think the country needs stronger opposition? Or are you just satisfied with your Shklow wise man?

I think the country should have several groups with their own understanding of Belarus future. But they should (I don't know how to say it in English) болеть сердцем за страну.
But current situation is following: stable goverment and some groups of clowns. And nothing more.

Originally Posted by Khomitchuk D.V.

I think the country should have several groups with their own understanding of Belarus future. But they should (I don't know how to say it in English) болеть сердцем за страну.
But current situation is following: stable goverment and some groups of clowns. And nothing more.

As for the expression, I guess it will be "their hearts should ache for the country".

As for the current situation, I think clowns can be found on both sides. Like "a stable group of clowns vs unstable one". (btw, have a think about who created the last group)

Originally Posted by Hanna

Does anyone have friends or family there who have a view on this? What do they think?

I have had a chance to read up about Belarus now, and I really think there is a lot of BS floating about in Western media. I don't think it is as bad as some media make out.

The elections there ARE fair according to EU observers. However hard they look they cannot find any proof of ballot stuffing or any type of coercion regarding the voting. The participation is about the same as Britain, about 60%

The problem is that the majority of Belarussians are voting for the "wrong" party/candidate, namely Lukashenko, a socialist who will not open up the country for all-out market capitalism that many powers in the West would support.

Solution? Claim that the elections were rigged and spread catchy one-liners such as "Last dictatorship in Europe".

They probably DO have many problems and bad practices going on there, that should be stopped. But that's another story. If Belarussians prefer socialism/social democracy and think that Lukashenko is OK, so what?

Also Lukashenko's party has refused to implement IMF recommendations of selling off public assets, reducing pensions, wages and state subsidies (which would mean plunging half of the population at least, into poverty).

They keep voting for him because they don't want the political chaos of Ukraine, or the poverty of rural Russia. That makes perfect sense, at least to me. As it is now, they have decent free healthcare and good free universities and everyone can afford to live, buy food and clothes. Most families have a car and a computer. The country is clean and orderly. Many have a car and computer.

Freedom of press is an subjective term but Belarus has privately owned media, including oppositional newspaper that critisize the government. Apparently they have banned printing of some anti-government papers in Belarus itself, so it is printed in the Baltics and imported.

The "disappeared" people apparently largely left the country and can be found in London, Moscow, Paris etc. So they "disappered" from Belarus but not from the face of the earth. If they have any genuine political prisoners (I can't find anything when I google it) then I think they should release them.

Plus the US and the Soros institutions are literally pouring money Into the opposition in Belarus, so there is probably an agenda there. They've tried several times to stage a "colour revolution" but not succeeded because not enough people are interested.

I am just NOT convinced that Belarussians in general would be better off if Lukashenko was toppled and a pro-West or pro-Russia market capitalist system was introduced.

Here is an interesting blog post, including the comments:
Neil Clark: Peter Hitchens on Belarus
Belarus: Dictatorship or Democracy? A Review of Stewart Parker’s: “The Last Soviet Republic” | Robert Lindsay

1. OSCE didn’t recognise the result of these “elections” as legitimate

2. Some Belarusians keep voting for Lukashenko because they are compelled to do so. Yes, elderly population doesn't have the access to the Internet and they believe every word of belarusian state TV channels. There are also a lot of people who work in the state sector of economy and they are forced to vote for Lukashenko and they vote because they are afraid of losing their jobs.

3. By the way, Lukashenko always raise salaries and introduces benefits for some time (e.g. free public transport for students and pupils) just before the election. Actually students, pupils and pensioner have NO social benefits in Belarus. Lukashenko tries to please people before the elections. But after the elections everything becomes worse again.

4. Those who serve in the army or in the police force don't have their own choice and have to vote as their commanders tell them to do.

5. rural Russia lives much better than rural Belarus. At least, in Russia and in Ukraine you may start up your business with no problem. In Belarus, everything belongs to the state.

6. "The "disappeared" people apparently largely left the country and can be found in London, Moscow, Paris etc. " - TELL THIS TO THE MOTHER, WIFE AND SON OF ANDREY ZAVADSKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some years ago the wifes, mothers and children of the "disappeared" people often gathered in the center of Minsk and stayed in silence for an hour or two keeping the photos of their "disappeared" sons, husbands and fathers..... Now the police doesn't allow them to do so.

7. The US and Soros sponsor the Belarusian opposition. But where can the opposition find money if they lost their jobs just because they are "enemies of the regime".

8. I'm also not sure that Belarus would be better without Lukashenko but why are we always afraid of any change???!! WE NEED CHANGES! If you are interested, watch the video about the elections 2010 and everything after it, there are subtitles in English

Originally Posted by Khomitchuk D.V.

Hi, people. I live in Brest. I want to write some words about elections in our country, previous, current, and as it looks like - next.
I know nothing about candidates. How are they? What is their policy? What have they already done for the country? How they want to rule the country without understanding of situation, skills and practice?
They always scrumbles out from somewhere before elections, and hiding after it. If they are real opposition, why do they do nothing? Они хотят стать президентом не слезая с печи.
And I should notice that may be this situation is usual in Western Countries, when prime-minister or president is a signboard of certain group of people, who has the same political course. But in our country president is the person who decide everything, others are just advicers.

Thanks for reading this, and correct my mistakes please.

Those who want to find the information about the candidates, find it easily in the web. As for me, a saw a lot of people in the streets agitating the citizens to vote for this or that candidate. Lukashenko has no skills how to rule the country! The president is not an expert in economics and business. He just listens to the advisers and decides what to do. There were some good candidates in 2010 who could successfully replace Lukashenko.

Originally Posted by belarusnews

2. Some Belarusians keep voting for Lukashenko because they are compelled to do so.

Всегда хотел узнать как "заставляльщики" проверяют, чтобы их не обманули? Заставляют рабов ставить галочку не в кабинке, а под их присмотром?

Originally Posted by BappaBa

Всегда хотел узнать как "заставляльщики" проверяют чтобы их не обманули? Заставляют рабов ставить галочку не в кабинке, а под их присмотром?

I guess it was about the so-called "early voting" when each vote doesn't matter and goes to the "wise man" anyway...

Originally Posted by Eric C.

I guess it was about the so-called "early voting" when each vote doesn't matter and goes to the "wise man" anyway...

Yes, you are right. There are groups of people at state enterprises that agitate their collegues to vote earlier. If they disagree, they can loose their jobs.

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 Hanna

Does anybody genuinely doubt that Lukashenko got the majority of the votes, I don't!
If I was a pensioner, agriculture worker or state employee in Belarus I'd definitely vote for him to continue to have a stable lifestyle and some money coming in. Wouldn't you?

And if you had a son or a daughter for whom there's no good future in Belarus? What would you do?

Originally Posted by Eric C.

I, pace moderators, would like to get the thread back to the subject.

People from Belarus, cast light on the issue, please. Are you really in ecstasies about your "socialist paradise"? Would you change anything about it? If so, what would you change?

Oh, yes! Judging by what i wrote above, the situation in Belarus drives me into ecstasies )))))))

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 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 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 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.