{"id":11544,"date":"2023-03-16T17:18:16","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T14:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/coordination-council-can-be-more-than-a-partner-for-cichanouskaja-team\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"coordination-council-can-be-more-than-a-partner-for-cichanouskaja-team","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11544\/","title":{"rendered":"Coordination Council can be more than a partner for Cichano\u016dskaja team"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n Pavie\u0142 \u0141atushka, an outspoken critic of the Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka regime slammed the door on the Coordination Council (CC) in late February, warning of a strategic split in the opposition. He claimed that the council might be dominated by compromisers willing to negotiate with the dictator.<\/b><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t As a result, the CC, which had undergone a radical overhaul, found itself in the spotlight of public and media attention. The public had questions about who all these people were, what they had planned, and wanted to see its draft rules of procedure (a rare instance of burning interest in a paper written in bureaucratic language), and so on.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The rules have been adopted and made public. Andrej Jahora\u016d, an experienced third sector activist, has been elected as CC speaker.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t He declared his intention to “restore strategic coordination within the democratic forces,” and in particular – to work constructively with \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja’s United Transitional Cabinet. So maybe \u0141atu\u0161ka, a member of the cabinet, made a fuss for nothing?\n<\/p>\n

\nProto-parliament hits back <\/h3>\n

\n\t Latu\u0161ka said that the CC regulations would ignite internal strife in the opposition camp.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The rules suggest that the CC is aiming for an important role with significant powers. It intends to propose, discuss, and approve strategic tasks for the Cichano\u016dskaja office and other opposition public and political entities that establish a relationship of “responsible partnership” with it. It also plans to propose and confirm candidates for positions in the office and other bodies.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The CC is also planning to “exercise the function of civil control by listening to periodic reports from the United Transitional Cabinet, including its individual representatives, on its activities, including fundraising and spending,” the latter being a particularly sensitive issue. Furthermore, the CC may even propose a vote of no-confidence if a report is deemed unsatisfactory.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In addition, the CC intends to represent the interests of society at the international stage in the framework of agreed diplomatic priorities.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In other words, the CC, which some enthusiasts see as the proto-parliament of a new Belarus, seeks to control and define personnel management policies, and even direct Cichano\u016dskaja and her cabinet.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The opposition leader and her associates may not particularly accustomed to this type of accountability. They have, in a way, risen above all other political emigrants, capitalizing on the legitimacy of their leader. The cabinet has not yet really branched out of the Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s office, whereas the CC is pushing for the separation of powers.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe question “who are you?” hangs in the air <\/h3>\n

\n\t Latu\u0161ka has criticized the idea of a proto-parliament, which, he argued, was not elected by voters but wanted to represent Belarus at the international stage.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t If serious sparks fly between the CC and other opposition entities, stones could rain down on this ambitious body. Some might say, who are you to command us, decide who to appoint where, count our money, and so on?\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Indeed, the CC has a weakness. Its delegates were not elected by voters, but named mainly by third-sector organizations that have been pushed into emigration. Some delegates were self-nominated.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The next CC might be formed through a nationwide vote. But for now, the question “who are you?” is being discussed by social media users and will hang in the air.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t And even in a year’s time, it will be difficult to organize a truly mass vote on an advanced online platform, if an atmosphere of terror and fear still prevails in Belarus. Belarusians are afraid to even like something on Facebook, let alone elect the CC, which the Belarusian government designated as an extremist group.\n<\/p>\n

\nDealing with Ukraine not easy <\/h3>\n

\n\t In an interview with BPN, Jahora\u016d said that the CC\u2019s priority will be forging ties with Ukraine, noting that Belarus\u2019 transition to democracy would hardly be possible without its victory.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The Cichano\u016dskaja team has been struggling to reach out to Kyiv.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t One problem is that Kyiv is playing a behind-the-scenes game with \u0141uka\u0161enka to keep Belarusian forces at bay, although it would be ridiculous to assume that the Belarusian leader can order his troops to attack if President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with the Belarusian opposition leader.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t One Ukrainian public figure said that Zelensky was unwilling to meet with Cichano\u016dskaja in Kyiv because she could not inspire more Belarusians to resist their government\u2019s involvement in the Russian military campaign against Ukraine.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t It is true that Cichano\u016dskaja has little influence on the government and the public in Belarus. The CC has no influence at all. Most Belarusians are simply unaware of its existence yet. So, Kyiv would be even less interested in dealing with it.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t On the other hand, Ukraine is not just Zelensky. A lot can be done to improve communication with Ukraine\u2019s civil society, experts and the media.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Jahora\u016d also vowed to work closely with “radical” organizations, in an apparent reference to the Kastu\u015b Kalino\u016dski Regiment formed of Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine. This may be difficult because Kalino\u016dski fighters seem to be skeptical about office oppositionists.\n<\/p>\n

\nDebate over sanctions <\/h3>\n

\n\t However, the biggest question mark is hanging over a strategy of the democratic forces.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Latu\u0161ka and others are pushing for more sanctions across all platforms, including the harmonization of measures against Moscow and Minsk and the elimination of loopholes that help the Belarusian authorities circumvent restrictions.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Recently, \u0141atu\u0161ka\u2019s National Anti-Crisis Management approved a strategy to ratchet up economic pressure on the regime. It plans to set up a committee responsible for it.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u0141atu\u0161ka criticizes the West for not doing enough in terms of sanctions. Now he is afraid that CC with its softer position may interfere in his negotiations with Western officials.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t There are indeed different opinions on sanctions among CC delegates. Jahora\u016d, for instance, said that he was opposed to the harmonization of sanctions because that might expose Belarus to absorption by Russia.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Jahora\u016d came under attack from some opposition figures for the remark, although the debate on sanctions is quite legitimate.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t A significant part of the opposition has advocated more and more sanctions for several years already. But the regime seems to be unaffected.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t On the contrary, after the upheavals of 2020, \u0141uka\u0161enka has cemented his control over the country and tied himself well to Russia\u2019s resources and market. He recently visited China and Iran in an attempt to diversify ties. Iran has been under sanctions for decades, but its regime is still holding on.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t At the same time, the West, judging by some symptoms, is close to the ceiling of sanctions against Moscow and Minsk. There has been talk about easing restrictions, at least for Belarusian potassium. Besides, polls show that most Belarusians are in favor of lifting sanctions.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t But even if sanctions were tightened to a point where the regime’s stronghold begins to crack, \u0141uka\u0161enka would prefer to be the governor of Russia\u2019s northwestern province rather than kneel before the West and pro-democracy opposition whom he hates so much.\n<\/p>\n

\nUnity is important <\/h3>\n

\n\t Negotiations are conducted even during war and even with terrorists. Many compare political prisoners to captives, hostages of the regime. A group of relatives of political prisoners believe that a well-considered and flexible policy is needed for their release, including behind-the-scenes efforts. They appealed to democratic country leaders, not the opposition, which has rather limited influence on the Western sanctions policy.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Two years ago the Cichano\u016dskaja team conducted an online vote that proved considerable public support for negotiations with the regime.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t But the regime would not talk to those who it contemptuously calls “fugitives.”\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Since then, \u0141uka\u0161enka’s position has not changed. He feels too confident to make concessions to his opponents. At present, during the period of the reaction and in an atmosphere of fear, opposition leaders cannot mobilize the masses for internal struggle.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The regime, armed with a big stick and relying on the Kremlin, is unlikely to be toppled or weakened by any magic plan – neither a tough nor a flexible one – in the foreseeable future.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Which, of course, does not relieve the democratic forces of the duty to develop a strategy. It should examine combinations of methods and a range of scenarios.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Most importantly, the opposition must keep unity as it experiments with the separation of powers.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN Pavie\u0142 \u0141atushka, an outspoken critic of the Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka regime slammed the door on the Coordination Council (CC) in late February, warning of a strategic split in the opposition. He claimed that the council might be dominated by compromisers willing to negotiate with the dictator. As a result, the CC, which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-11544","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCoordination Council can be more than a partner for Cichano\u016dskaja team | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN Pavie\u0142 \u0141atushka, an outspoken critic of the Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka regime slammed the door on the Coordination Council (CC) in\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11544\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Coordination Council can be more than a partner for Cichano\u016dskaja team | Pozirk\" 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