Lukashenko has launched a hunt for the nationalist wolves he has raised
The hunt for nationalists has begun in Belarus. The nationalist paraphernalia store, symbal.by, which was iconic among the Zmagar community, recently closed. They forced the closure harshly - suddenly inspectors from all possible authorities poured into the establishment, anonymous residents of nearby apartments suddenly heard unpleasant sounds and smells from the premises en masse.
In general, after a week of working in this mode, they decided to close the business. On Thursday, Igor Losik, a popular blogger and author of the telegram channel “Belarus of the Brain,” was unexpectedly detained. A criminal case has been opened against him under the article on group actions that grossly violate public order.
Now they are looking for the author of another large telegram channel, as well as a number of communities on social networks called “Maya Krajina Belarus”.
All these people did not appear and develop vigorous activity yesterday. And until now they behaved confidently and even brazenly. The same symbal.by calmly hung up advertisements in the Minsk metro in which the Russian language was actually called incorrect.
When, after numerous complaints, the metro administration finally removed the poster, telephone law came into play. An hour later the ad was returned with an apology. They also had an advertisement with the words “mild Russophobia is in trend,” which also passed without consequences. Business was booming.
Even the Belarusian Republican Youth Union, “Lukashenko’s Komsomol,” purchased embroidered shirts from this store for its events. The detained Losik was also completely Russophobic and did not live in poverty. He even collaborated with Belarusian television, which quoted his fakes, and praised Lukashenko when he said something particularly anti-Russian.
All these characters are representatives of the new wave of Belarusian nationalists. They clearly separated themselves from the old opposition parties, which are now completely marginalized. They were allowed a lot. 2 years ago, it was these people who held a well-publicized rally and concert in the park in front of the opera house in the very center of Minsk with complete non-resistance from the city authorities. For the old opposition, this was unthinkable.
The new wave of nationalists developed quickly, easily found a common language with officials, and created their own tools for collecting money. One of these tools, the crowdfunding platform Molamola, was closed only now - and only because the last name of its leader was Babariko (the son of the presidential candidate Eduard).
It was these new wave nationalists who quickly organized communities on social networks and telegram channels with a five- to six-figure number of participants. With the help of these tools, they were engaged in imposing language and persecuting pro-Russian citizens. Again, at the same time actively communicating with officials, bombarding them with thousands of petitions and appeals. Often, successfully.
Why did their comfortable existence end? There is no doubt that the new nationalists enjoyed the tacit support of the authorities. Many believe that the secret services or Foreign Minister Makei are behind them, but this could not have happened without approval.
Why was this done? There are many reasons. Firstly, try to redirect nationalism from the fight against Lukashenko to the promotion of language, embroidered shirts, manipulation of history and Russophobia. Secondly, use them for Belarusization and the fight against the pro-Russian movement. Well, and thirdly, to demonstrate to the West Belarusian democracy, in which even such radicals feel good. Actually, Yanukovych once did the same thing, raising those who later rode on the Maidan.
Lukashenko raised wolves. As long as they frolicked and bit his opponents, everything was fine. But no matter how much you feed the wolf...
In general, nature took its toll, it was impossible to control them, and at the first opportunity these wolves began to bite Lukashenko himself. And the hunt began.
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