Native language suppressed, Russian norms imposed: Opposition leader describes Belarusian reality
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko (photo: Getty Images)
In Belarus, use of native language has become a tool of pressure and repression, and speaking Belarusian even on everyday topics can draw attention from the State Security Committee of Belarus, Leader of Belarusian democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
Responding to the question whether public communication in the Belarusian language, even on non-political topics and simply about everyday matters, can lead to problems, the interlocutor answered affirmatively.
She said that it is absolutely true that people are repressed for their language and that the language has become, in a way, a tool of resistance. According to her, people have to hide, gather, sing Belarusian songs, and read Belarusian poetry.
Tsikhanouskaya noted that many books in the Belarusian language are banned in the country, and that history is being rewritten to erase everything connected with Europe and to emphasize what is connected with Russia.
She described this as an idea of destroying national identity.
She also said that people are not always imprisoned for using the language in public space, but that they can be taken to the State Security Committee of Belarus for interrogation, with entire families becoming involved in such cases, calling this a very realistic scenario.
Earlier, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, stated that Belarus would never abandon the use of the Russian language.
Video has also appeared online in which a journalist from Belsat TV addresses Belarusians in their native language. Those being questioned do not understand him and ask him to speak Russian.
Belarus is significantly expanding the powers of its army, in particular regarding actions inside the country. The military will be able to suppress protests.
