{"id":142799,"date":"2025-06-16T11:57:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T08:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/142799\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"opposition-politicians-spar-over-strategy","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/142799\/","title":{"rendered":"Opposition politicians spar over strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (Belsat\/Radyjo Racyja; Pozirk's collage)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 16, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> At a conference yesterday in Warsaw, two prominent Belarusian opposition figures engaged in a heated debate over the movement\u2019s strategic direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrej Jahora\u016d of the Coordination Council, speaking at the Reshape 2025 forum, criticized the pro-democracy forces for what he described as a loss of public support and increasing marginalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We don\u2019t seem to realize that, even in the current situation, we can still inflict damage on the regime\u2014but it is difficult, complex and often mundane,” Jahora\u016d said. “The \u2018strategy of a thousand cuts\u2019 is still viable, yet we seem to prefer a \u2018strategy of a thousand visits and two thousand conferences\u2019,” he added, in an apparent jab at opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s emphasis on international diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to the criticism, Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s aide Franak Via\u010dorka pointed to a lack of concrete suggestions from opponents of the current approach, accusing them of focusing solely on negatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have two choices: either take action\u2014even small steps like saving someone from an Interpol notice, lobbying for visa support or securing Swedish assistance for independent media\u2014which helps those shaping the situation inside Belarus. . . or we give up,\u201d Via\u010dorka said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He acknowledged the absence of a clear short-term strategy to bring about change in Belarus but vowed to continue the struggle. Otherwise, he warned, Western countries may start treating Belarus like Azerbaijan\u2014cutting support for civil society and media, abandoning political prisoners and even considering the extradition of exiled regime critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Union maintains cooperation with Azerbaijan\u2019s authoritarian government despite its poor human rights record. Azerbaijan has signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the EU and takes part in the Eastern Partnership initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"