Belarusian society split over 1917 October revolution

Nearly a thousand people took part in the rally to celebrate the October Revolution on November 7^th held near Lenin’s Monument on Independence Square in Minsk by the Communist Party of Belarus.

November 7^th (anniversary of the Great October Revolution, 1917) is a public holiday in Belarus since it legitimizes the current model of state. Belarusians are either neutral or nostalgic regarding the October Revolution. The opposition regards October Revolution as a negative chapter in Belarus’ development.

Unlike in the USSR, November 7^th celebrations in today’s Belarus have a slightly different semantic meaning. They are closely integrated into the existing ideological paradigm which states that the Republic of Belarus gained its statehood as a result of the 1917 events. Despite the rejection of communist ideals, President Lukashenko still retains his image as being the torch-holder of Soviet traditions. Ever since his first years in the office, this image of Lukashenko has been supported not only in Belarus, but also in Russia.

The holiday is quite popular among the older generation which was raised in the Soviet Era. However for the younger generation the events of November 7^th, 1917 have already lost their original meaning. For instance, the pro-governmental Liberal Democratic Party has proposed to rename October Revolution Day into the Day of Accord and Reconciliation, as has been done in Russia.

Among the politically active citizens there is no unity in relation to the November 7^th celebrations. Different attitudes exist even among supporters and mainly relate to their attitude towards the Belarusian authorities. Three different groups laid wreaths at the Lenin Monument in Minks. About 200 members of Belarus’ Communist Party took part in the official celebrations. Later, representatives of the Fair World opposition Leftist Party (which before 2009 was called the Belarus’ Party of Communists) also laid flowers at the Lenin Monument. Orthodox communists – representatives of the ‘For democracy, social progress and justice’ opposition party (advocating for the Soviet Union revival) also held their celebrations near the Monument.

Unlike in previous years, the November 7^th celebrations did not lead to harsh confrontations between supporters of the communist legacy and their opponents. For instance, in 2011 Young Front representatives threw eggs and stones at Lenin Monument and at protesters – Communist Party members. This year, opposition parties and movements have limited their activity to appealing to the authorities to rename the Lenin Street in Minsk, and to laying flowers on the graves of the victims of the communist regime.

November 7^th celebrations continue to be used by the Belarusian authorities as an ideological justification for the Belarusian statehood. Despite the rejection of communist ideals, Belarusian society is not ready for full ‘de-communization’ of public consciousness.