Belarusian Democratic Movement Radicalizing - Ukraine's Diplomat

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Ihor Kyzym, Ambassador-at-Large for Belarus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus (2017-2023), believes that the Belarusian Democratic movement has been somewhat radicalized over the recent period.

The diplomat expressed the opinion in an interview with Ukrinform.

The diplomat noted that when, after being appointed Ambassador-at-Large for Belarus, he spoke with the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, it was clearly determined that Ukraine should proceed from the main message: these are people who support Ukraine in countering Russian aggression, so their efforts are to Kyiv's benefit so contacts should be maintained.

Kyzym recalled his meetings with leaders and representatives of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition, independent media, and the Kastus Kalinovsky Regiment.

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“I have extensive phone communication and correspondence, that is, I know what is happening among the Belarusian democratic forces. As per my observations, recently there has been a certain radicalization of the Belarusian democratic movement,” the ambassador said.

In this context, he noted that the five years that have passed since the previous elections in 2020 have not shown an increase in the influence of democratic forces on Belarusian public within the country and the rise of the struggle for democratization.

“On the contrary, the Lukashenko regime has only intensified repression against its own people... And in this regard, there is now a growing opinion among the Belarusian democratic forces that, perhaps, it is necessary to raise the issue of toppling the regime by force,” Kyzym noted.

The diplomat added that there is even a structural radicalization of the Belarusian democratic forces. In particular, a representative of the Kalinovsky regiment has joined the joint transitional committee of Democratic Belarus, where it deals with defense and security issues. The Kalinovtsi public movement has also been created as an association of representatives of Belarusian democratic forces and Belarusian volunteers.

"I think that now the Belarusian democratic forces, and all of us, should review their approaches... After the 'elections' of 2020 there were protests and demonstrations but on January 26 there were no demonstration, no protests. Lukashenko breathed a sigh of relief, and this "relief" means another five years of him staying in power. In such a situation, the democratic forces need to somehow, so to speak, update the concept of democratization of Belarus," the diplomat noted.

As reported, Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power in Belarus for over 30 years, launched his seventh presidential term after the "elections" on January 26.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine branded the January 26 "elections" in Belarus a "one-man political show", stating that Ukraine does not recognize their legitimacy, along with most democracies.

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