Democracy and Development Assistance Fund (DDAF) organized a traditional meeting of Belarus Friends' Club, which took place at the Eastern Europe Studies Centre. This time it's guest was Pavel Severinets - one of the most active Belarus youth opposition leaders.
P. Severinets is active in politics since he was seventeen. He claims that changes in Belarus could occur from the "bottom to the top". Pavel claims that although the state regime is stable and opposition is weak, social groups which could initiate change in Belarus do exist. These are the students, entrepreneurs and church-goes. The members of the former group being conscientious and responsible constitute part of the society which support and activism is vital for the opposition. The entrepreneurs are being "neutralized" in Belarus. Having little chances of success in their activity, entrepreneurs are the ones who would support the changes. Finally, students are the new generation who wants to live free.
During the discussion Belarus-Russia relations as well as the reasons of consolidation of A. Lukashenka's regime were discussed. For P. Severinets these two questions are intertwined. By signing the treaty of the Soviet Union Belarus condemned itself to the demoralization and russification. By the Soviet strategists Belarus was seen as a platform of the possible collision between East and West. Therefore the Soviet ideologists paid much attention to Belarus: Belarussians should have been prepared to obey to the instructions without questioning. Thus Belarussians were used to the strong hand politics and A. Lukashenka used this factor to his benefit.
After the meeting it was clear that active, stubborn and eager leaders in Belarus exist. P. Severinets is one those who perceive the necessity of change. Supporting the initiatives of these people we can help to achieve it.