Lukashenka Commentator Says Wood from Crosses Torn Down at Kuropaty Can Now Be Put to Good Use

Paul Goble

            Staunton, April 6 – Andrey Mukovozchik, a pro-Lukashenka commentator for Minsk’s Sovetskaya Belorussiya, says that all the wood from the crosses that were demolished by government agents this week can now be used to build something useful for the people of the republic (sb.by/articles/posledniy-khayp.html).

            This tone-deaf response to outrage by Belarusians and governments and organizations around the world, outrage that echoes the horror many felt when the Soviets vandalized churches and used the wood for other buildings and when the Nazis paved roads with Jewish grave stones is intended to show that Alyaksandr Lukashenka is confident he can weather this storm. 

            But he and his regime may have miscalculated this time. Belarusians view his destruction of the crosses at Kuropaty as a direct attack on their nation, and they too are not inclined to forget, forgive or back down this time, however willing they have been in the past given Lukashenka’s willingness to suppress opposition by force.

            On the one hand, both the Belarusian National Congress is calling for a public prayer service tomorrow at Minsk’s Freedom Square about this government outrage, and the Belarusian Christian Democrats are also calling for prayers outside the city’s main cathedral (charter97.org/ru/news/2019/4/5/329430/ and charter97.org/ru/news/2019/4/5/329460/).

            And on the other, there is evidence that at least some Belarusians are now thinking about or even are prepared to take more radical actions against the authors of the Kuropaty outrage: Posters have appeared in the city of Brest showing Lukashenka hosted on a pitchfork and bearing the simple legend “It’s Time!”  (charter97.org/ru/news/2019/4/6/329601/).

            Lukashenka probably has enough force on which he can rely to hold on to power. But if the challenges grow – and doing something as outrageous and absurd as cutting down crosses put up by religious people who only want to commemorate their ancestors is the kind of thing that can lead to that – he could have to turn to Moscow for assistance.

            That may be what the Kremlin wants: it may even engage in provocations intended to produce that outcome. As a result, the coming days may be the most fateful in Belarus’ post-Soviet history.