One of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition, Valery Tsapkala, stated that Belarusians do not want to implement the Ukrainian scenario in his country, since “their revolution took place outside the electoral cycle”. However, his remarks seem to refer to Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity (EuroMaidan of 2013–2014), when Ukrainians rose up against the government following Yanukovych’s sudden refusal to sign the Association Agreement with the EU, thus abandoning Ukraine’s declared course towards European integration. In late November, 2013, thousands joined the nationwide movement after seeing Berkut officers viciously attacking protesting students.
OP-ED
Vitaliy Portnikov: Belarus through prism of Orange Revolution
A woman holds an orange flag with the logo if the Our Ukraine Party, headed by Viktor Yushchenko, an opposition candidate and Orange Revolution Leader in December 2004. (Courtesy)
