Criticism intensifies among political exiles as NGOs trial new activities

Political exiles seek the IMF’s response and verification of special drawing rights allocated to Belarus. The activities of NGOs are largely curtailed by inspections by the Ministry of Justice, and many of the organisations have already been liquidated. However, political organisations and initiatives are attempting to ascertain the parameters of possible activities in Belarus.

The reaction of Civil Society and Christian communities to a caricature of Catholic priests in an official newspaper forces the authorities to justify themself and disown the actions of propagandists.

After searches of delegates homes and the withdrawal of some activists, the SKHOD platform is reorganised and remains publicly active.

Divisions, tensions, and protests persist despite harsh repression, arbitrary detentions, heavy fines, and ongoing arrests of dissenters. A few street marches and protests continue in the capital and regions.

Political exiles clarify the general agenda during a meeting at the forum in Karpacz. However, tensions within the diaspora are beginning to increase with the anti-sanctions bloc gaining ground. Former presidential candidate from 1994, Zianon Pazniak criticised the sanctions policy and its supporters, including the leaders of the 2020 protests.

Fatigue is growing within civil society and the political diaspora due to a lack of visible success in changing the situation in the country and the ongoing repression, despite the tightening of sanctions by Western capitals.

The campaign to block the granting of special drawing rights to Minsk leads to the dispatch of an IMF mission to Belarus to evaluate the economic situation and the concerns of civil society.

Civil society has also succeeded in pressuring the International Hockey Federation to disqualify the head of the FHB, Dmitry Baskov, who was forced to resign as chairman of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation.

Tension and mutual recriminations are likely to increase within the diaspora as the international community’s attention inevitably begins to wane.