On March 25, during the rally on occasion of Belarus’s unofficial Freedom Day, its participants faced arrests, beatings, police abuse. Independent mass media provided many reports, photos and videos of the brutal dispersal of truly a peaceful protest.
Different opinion of Belarusian state-run media
According to the unnamed authors of the film White Legion – Black Souls, two or three dozen persons were involved in the preparation of a coup d’etat which was to take place in Minsk on March, 25. It is reported that ‘Frau A.’, who lives in Germany but still ‘concerned about her Motherland’ came to the Belarusian embassy in Berlin and informed the diplomats of the alleged plot. She said it was her friend, a citizen of France, who provided her with such information. Notably, the woman did not know exactly when ‘provocations’ would happen – on March 24, 25 or 26. The information was not accurate.
Lesser significance
“The period of the so-called liberalization which lasted about a year and a half has apparently ended. When Alyaksandr Lukashenka saw the scale of the protests, he decided to put them down. His image, the game with the West are of secondary importance now,” said political analyst Alyaksandr Klaskouski.
Militants’ camps, terror attacks and Daesh
Belarusian state-run TV (BT) claims that the defendants in the White Legion case were preparing a series of terrorist attacks. The second part of the film shows ‘militants’ special training camps in Belarus and abroad, making explosives, illegal leeping of arms and even ties with ISIS, ‘Banderovites’ and Maidan’s protesters, which was aimed at demonizing the arrestees.
Although BT used to invite some puppet experts to comment in their previous propaganda movies, no military expert has been involved in the recent propaganda piece.
Pahonya, white-red-white flag, swastika…
It is no coincidence that the authors of the film attempted to state the equality between Nazi symbols and the historical flag and emblem of the Belarusian nation.
“They poured all their fears on us. They are afraid of an independent Belarus, they do not want an independent Belarus, they are afraid of our national symbols, history, people who are ready to defend Belarus in case of a threat,” prominent Belarusian journalist Svyatlana Kalinkina says.
What lengths are authorities ready to go to?
It is not ruled out that Belarus will face another show trial.
“Staying in power is Lukashenka’s biggest task and challenge. Power is a supervalue. Lukashenka repeatedly spoke without disguise that if necessary he would take a machine gun and shoot back. Such statemants point to his fears and phobias, and phobias are terrible things,” Klaskouski stresses.
As reported earlier, about 30 persons – former members of the defunct sports and patriotic organization White Legion, state-authorized sports and military club Patriot, Young Front activists, historians, as well as people who are not associated with any organizations, landed up in jail soon after president Lukashenka had spread the word about ‘armed militants’ posing a threat to Belarus. 20 of them were charged with establishing an illegal armed group In accordance with Article 287 of the Criminal Code, they may face up to 5 years of restriction of liberty or 3 to 7 years of imprisonment.
- White Legion’ case inconsistencies emerge as KGB arrests continue
- Dashkevich accused of training persons for participation in mass riots
- Lukashenka finds one more ‘armed militant’: 27 arrestees on list
Belsat.eu
