Prisoners are released: Lukashenko is trying to calm the protest with a carrot after a stick
The Belarusian authorities announced the release of those arrested during the protests. Alexander Lukashenko instructed to investigate the facts of the detentions, and the head of the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Yuri Karaev, apologized to those affected by the actions of his subordinates.
Observers are wondering what caused the sudden change in the mood of the Belarusian authorities. “Liberalizer” may be a cunning game - replacing a carrot with a stick in order to reduce tension in the country, or a consequence of international pressure on Minsk, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Yuri Karaev
“I take responsibility and apologize for the injuries to random people at the protests who were targeted,” said the head of the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs on one of the country’s television channels. “We must release detainees faster, and we have already begun to do this.”
And, indeed, after the minister’s words, detainees began to be released en masse from Belarusian pre-trial detention centers. In Minsk they are met by a crowd of relatives and opposition supporters. Some tried to clap, but those leaving asked to stop the applause - they say that for every ovation from outside the detention center, they respond with new beatings inside.
One of those released is emergency doctor Anastasia. The girl told reporters on camera how she was detained at a medical rally with a machine gun pointed at her head - and how she heard men being beaten at night in the detention center.
“Of course, the Belarusian authorities were afraid not so much of the protesters as of the factory workers, doctors, and railway workers who took to the streets. The protest of workers and peasants is Lukashenko’s nightmare,” believes Russian military correspondent Alexander Kots, who is now in Minsk.
Natalia Kochanova
“The President heard the opinion of the labor collectives and instructed to look into all the facts of the arrests that have occurred in recent days,” the Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly, Natalya Kochanova, essentially spoke on behalf of Lukashenko, who has not appeared in public space all these days. “Intensive work is now underway in this direction; as of this evening, more than a thousand people have been released under an obligation not to participate in unauthorized events, and minors have been handed over to their parents against a signature. It is obvious that we all do not need a fight, we do not need a war. Minsk has always been quiet and calm. Let's stop self-destruction."
However, judging by the mood of the opposition, they are not ready for reconciliation, and the stories of detainees about inhumane and cruel treatment by the Belarusian security forces add fuel to the fire. The next mass action is already planned for Saturday, but the whole past day was also restless, throughout the country labor collectives of various enterprises came out against Lukashenko’s regime, women stood along the roads in support of those arrested with protest and patriotic posters.
It can be assumed that the attempt of the Lukashenko regime to find mutual understanding with the protesters is connected with pressure on him from the West: The presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland in a joint statement called on their Belarusian counterpart to stop street violence and release the detainees. And the State Department, as already reported by PolitNavigator, threatened to cut off oil supplies.
“Listen to the voice of your citizens and allow them to speak freely... This would be an appropriate step towards starting a real national dialogue. We firmly believe that dialogue is always the best way to promote social development, discuss reforms and the future of your country,” the European leaders said in a joint statement.
Almost simultaneously, the Ambassador of Belarus was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry, where he was demanded to give an explanation about the situation in the country, and then Germany’s position on the issue was communicated, although without publicly stating the meaning of the message.
Russian TV presenter Andrei Medvedev notes that concessions to the opposition may be perceived as weakness, and by the security forces as betrayal.
“The Belarusian turnaround is, of course, very interesting. Statements by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the head of the upper house of parliament essentially mean that, firstly, the authorities decided to reduce pressure on the protesters. And she admitted that she went too far with shotguns, rubber bullets and other things.
Secondly, now, according to the logic of things, the security forces “guilty of excesses” should be punished. But they were unlikely to make gestures on the streets solely out of a personal villainous nature. They were ordered to make gestures. And they promised that they would cover everyone and there would be no consequences.
Hence thirdly. The minister’s words and his apology are tantamount to defeat/betrayal for the security forces. An association immediately arises with Yanukovych and Ukraine.
And fourthly, the protesters will clearly consider this all a victory. Even though she's not there. The elite is not seriously giving up. The “fas” command will simply be cancelled.
It is very difficult to predict how things will end. But I wonder, did it all just happen, or did some part of the elite play out a scenario around Lukashenko? The second option is indicated by too many clearly formed situations. Detention of “PMC fighters”, detention of journalists, harsh actions of the police.
This is hardly the West. The scope is not the same. They are just now trying to fit into the situation on the fly.
But it’s not over yet. Today the detainees were released, many of them are very angry. Massive protests are expected on Saturday. The security forces are wondering what they will be ordered to do, and how they will react now?“- Medvedev argues.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.