Mouthpiece Experimentation Failure
In terms of the number of people pissed off, albeit for the wrong reasons, this announcement may set a record.
It’s all about floutist Maria Kаlesnikаva and banker Viktor Babariko (Viktar Babaryka), who on August 31 said in a YouTube video that they’ve decided to create a new political party/movement called Together (Vmeste).
The 4-minute long clip was pre-recorded, because Babariko and his son Eduard were detained by police on June 19, 2020 and thrown in jail. Last time I checked they were still there.
Kаlesnikаva helped run Babariko’s presidential campaign.
She is currently a member of the 7-member Presidium of the Coordinating Council seeking dialogue with self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko. She is one of three remaining council members not behind bars.
Wikipedia (which on matters involving Belarus is often incorrect) says:
Three basic popular demands have remained the same since protests erupted on August 9:
Lukashenko must leave ASAP
All political prisoners must be released immediately
Form temporary government, hold new parliamentary and presidential elections according to 1994 Constitution
Maybe Maria and Viktor should use their energies to achieve these goals? Now. Or at least chat up the ideas with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and her colleagues.
There will be plenty of time for political party registration games after Lukashenko is deposed and political prisoners have been released.
