The Kyiv Post has traditionally been the global voice of Ukraine, but more precisely, the voice of an independent, democratic Ukraine
We are fully aware of our responsibility in this sense before the Ukrainian people and the outside world. But we also recognize that as a land of freedom, Ukraine has become a place of refuge for many of those fleeing political intolerance, persecution, repression and even death in their own countries, particularly neighboring ones.
In the spirit of democratic solidarity, the Kyiv Post also wants to serve these communities of democratically minded refugees and exiles by providing them with the possibility to voice their concerns and views.
For this purpose, we will periodically be inviting representatives from political exiles who have found asylum in Ukraine and see it as a base for their democratic activities, to be heard on our pages in a new column called Democracy without Borders. The first two contributors will be from the Belarusian and Russian exile communities in Kyiv.
As the dissidents used to say:
“For your freedom, and ours!“
Here is the first in this series
Democracy without Borders: Belarusian realities (1)
By Denis Dudinsky
To start with, let’s agree that all kinds and types of forced migration nowadays are distressing, horrible, unacceptable and humiliating. In 2020 Belarusians encountered this term – “forced migration” – for the first time. That summer, presidential elections were held in Belarus. Belarusian society was split into two opposing and antagonistic groups – those who voted for Aleksandr Lukashenko and those who were against him (doesn’t matter for whom exactly the latter were going to vote for on election day – they all were voting AGAINST the dictatorship of Lukashenko). Later, after Lukashenko announced himself the president of Belarus, political persecution began. Lots of opponents ended up in jail for weeks, months and years; thousands had, or were urged, to leave Belarus. The biggest wave of forced immigration from the country had started.
To understand the geopolitical situation of Belarus you just have to glance at the political map. In the East you see the Big Brother – that’s to say, Russia. It’s the only economic, military and political supportive power for Lukashenko’s regime in the neighborhood. Belarusian immigrants prefer not to consider that part of the globe as a final destination taking into consideration the mutual agreement on extradition between Russia and Belarus.
Then come the countries of the European Union – Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. All these countries are benevolent and friendly towards Belarusian refugees. They offer preferential registration, language lessons, employment etc. But you should understand that all these countries are too far from the Belarusian lifestyle, mentality and psychology. Yes, if you want to be closer to political confrontation, to international values, democracy, rights, education, self-development and global ideas you should choose Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.
But if you want just to live, to raise your children, communicate on equal terms with the locals, not think much about your future fate in a foreign country, you choose Ukraine. This country is much closer to the Belarusian mentality. Belarus and Ukraine have much in common - Slavic souls, common language roots and barbarian bureaucracy. More than this, the Ukrainian government recently signed a resolution which allows Belarusians stay in Ukraine without registration up to 180 days instead of 90 as it was before.
Me and my wife were among those who had to escape from Belarus. I was arrested, imprisoned and spent two weeks in a jail for taking part in protests in August 2020., We were fired from all state services and jobs; our business was totally ruined and closed. The dictator was taking revenge. For a whole year (June 2020 till June 2021) we were adamant – no immigration, Belarus is our country, we shall not leave it, we are not guilty. But they came to our home again in June 2021 - searching of our apartments, interrogations and the seizing our property. Finally, we realized that the regime wouldn’t leave us alone. First, we thought about Lithuania as a final destination for our escape. We wanted to be closer to the Revolution, to the opposition staff of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, to lead a desperate battle against the Lukashenko regime. But, thank God, we are in Ukraine. Why?
(to be continued)
