Paul
Goble
Staunton, October 21 – As a result
of events in Ukraine, a Kyiv commentator says, “a large number” of Belarusians
has “suddenly come to understand that to be a Russian speaker living outside of
Russia is becoming dangerous,” given that Moscow will send “little green men”
to “defend” them even without their asking.
On an NR2.com.ua blog today, Vadin
Dovnar says that Ukraine has shown Belarusians that one’s own nation and
national language can be sources of pride, sparking a volunteer movement in Belarus
to train people there, many of whom speak Russian, their national tongue (nr2.com.ua/blogs/VADIM_DOVNAR/Kak-Ukraina-belorussiziruet-Belarus-82737.html).
That has frightened some Belarusian
officials who have moved to shut down such activities, but even if they
succeed, they are unlikely to be able to bring Belarusians back to the
Russia-centric worldview many of them had only a few weeks or months ago.
Ukraine has changed that, Dovnar says.
Belarusians are now taking increasing pride in
their language, their history, and their culture. Some are tattooing themselves
with Belarusian symbols, others are putting Belarusian flags on their cards,
and there have been cases “when Belarusians have stopped cars” sporting Russian
national symbols.
Since last
spring, even Alyaksandr Lukashenka has been changing his tune, Dovnar says,
criticizing Russia and making other comments that can only please Belarusian
patriots. But he is so much Moscow’s puppet that few really believe that he
means what he says or that he will lead Belarus toward a better, freer and more
Ukraine-like future.
But his words
matter too because they open the way for others to discuss things and to
prepare for “the arrival of times” when Belarusians will be able to replace him
as the Ukrainians replaced the pro-Russian Yanukovich with someone more
committed to the “Belarusianization” of Belarus and the Belarusian nation.
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