Jauhen Afnahel: Everything Depends on Us
- 29.12.2017, 14:27
Self-conquest is the greatest of victories.
Jauhen Afnahel, the coordinator of the European Belarus civil campaign and one of the leaders of the Belarusian National Congress, summed up the year with Radio Racyja:
-I believe it has been the year of victories. Of course, protests that started with the March of Angry Belarusians in Minsk and swept through dozens of cities in the country were the key event. And their objective was reached - Decree No. 3 was abolished.
I am convinced that its new version will differ. And this is our common victory.
One more victory took place in the information space. The scenario of military exercises "West-2017" was taken by Belarusians with humor and creativity. Within a few days Moscow developers of hybrid wars were defeated. Despite the idea of its creators, Vejshnoriya cartoon became the symbol of the fight for freedom. Plato said "Self-conquest is the greatest of victories". Thousands of our compatriots who took the streets of cities and towns for the first time to speak out can be proud of it. Dozens of people who immediately headed rallies appeared in the country. Now they are well-known. I think the will make their presence felt.
- What do you personally consider the most prominent moments of 2017?
- They are the demonstration of solidarity, mutual assistance and the unity of Belarusians. Hundreds of people helped arrested participants in protest actions and their families. Thousands of them went to Belovezha Forest to take part in the search for the missing boy. Tens of thousands chanted "Long Live Belarus!" holding white-red-white flags at the concerts of Mikhalok and at the Lida Festival. It has happened for the first time. It proves drastic changes in the society.
- Will the situation with human rights change for the better in 2018?
It depends only on us. Serious danger to the existence of our country still remains. Russian troops and equipment are deployed in Belarus. Military exercises West-2017 showed that the authorities were not capable of responding to stove-piping on the part of Moscow. Soon we will celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People's Republic. It will certainly be one of the most important events of 2018 year and at the same time one of the most important challenge for the Belarusians. On March 25 we will see whether we are ready to "go by the name people", whether we deserve the right to our state and whether we can defend both it and ourselves.