The world is powerless against the cruelty of dictator Lukashenko

One of the main faces of last summer's protests in Belarus - flutist Maria Kolesnikova - was sentenced to 11 years in prison in a closed and secret "court" hearing on Monday. As even her lawyers were forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement, these 11 years are practically the only thing known about the trial itself.

Together with Kolesnikova, another protest activist, lawyer Maxim Znak, was "tried" and sentenced to 10 years. As for the current situation in Belarus, the words "court", "tried" and many others must be put in quotes because their meaning is completely different from how it is understood in countries that follow the rule of law. At present, the only law in Belarus that works consistently and unequivocally is the will of dictator Lukashenko. Therefore, there is no doubt that the chief judge of the "court" of Kolesnikova and Znak was Lukashenko himself.

If one has to answer the question on what basis Kolesnikova was tried, then here too what is written in the grounds of this cruel judgment is irrelevant, even if it were revealed. Kolesnikova, like other protest activists, is now forced to suffer for the unpleasant feelings that the dictator had to go through during last year's protests and probably continues to feel even now, because, although the situation is seemingly normalized, it is no longer possible to return things to the way they were before.

Since August 9 last year, Lukashenko's status has changed not only in the world but, above all, in Belarus itself. It is not so much about the legal-political side of his legitimacy as the socially sensitive one. Everyone, including those heads of state administration who take part in various meetings with the dictator, no longer has any illusions about the people's love for Lukashenko. It is clear to everyone that his power is based solely on repression and the loyalty of siloviki. The basic question is, how long can you keep sitting on pitchforks? Probably for a long time, but in any case, it is not pleasant to sit on them. Also not safe, because you can expect betrayal from any side at any time.

Kolesnikova was a part of the popular Belarusian female protest trio - Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Veronika Tsepkalo and Maria Kolesnikova. Tikhanovskaya was expelled from Belarus after talking to a high-ranking silovik in the office of Lidia Yermoshina, head of the Central Election Commission, a few days after the August 9 presidential election. There is a version that Lukashenko himself spoke to Tikhanovskaya in Yermoshina's office and threatened her. Veronica Tsepkalo left Belarus and joined her husband, the denied presidential candidate Valery Tsepkalo, just before August 9.

Thus, on August 16 last year, when the most massive protests in its history took place all over Belarus and it seemed that the Lukashenko regime was hanging by a hair, Kolesnikova was the most visible protest activist who had remained there. In the trio, where each of the women had her own distinctive symbol, Kolesnikova's signature sign was making a heart-shaped symbol with her hands. She displayed this symbol of love even against the backdrop of black-clad OMON units, thus emphasizing the non-violent nature of the protest.

It must be admitted that this belief in the effectiveness of non-violent methods played a bad joke on Kolesnikova. Looking back, it is clear that August 16 was the day when protesters under her leadership could have broken the future course of events, but it did not happen. "Believing the good, which will win in the end no matter what" prevented Kolesnikova and other activists from acting more decisively and, above all, more purposefully. Apparently, it seemed to her that victory was in her hands and it would come even if events are allowed to unfold on their own. Even later, when Kolesnikova was already detained and there were attempts to get her out of the country, she made an extremely courageous, but retroactively, wrong decision by ripping apart her passport at the border, crawling out the car window and voluntarily returning to the Belarusian siloviki. That is, to prison.

Most likely, the idea was different. That her imprisonment will maintain the power of the protests, global pressure and contribute to the early fall of the regime. Unfortunately, unexpectedly energetic and decisive action by Lukashenko, without the slightest mercy, allowed him to keep the weight cups in balance first, and soon to push them to his advantage. It was suddenly revealed that the widespread belief that good always conquers evil is not true. Sometimes the bad guys win. Especially if they do not have the luxuries that are unnecessary for dictators, such as softness and empathy when choosing methods.

Unfortunately, the case of Belarus marks another bad global trend. In the very heart of Europe in the 21st century, a ruthless tyrant can rampage, but the world can do nothing to him. He, in turn, can do almost anything with his opponents, and the world will be forced to sadly watch the raging of a mad dictator, with no real chance of helping the victims of his cruelty in any way.

Alexei Polikovsky, a columnist of Novaya Gazeta, describes the situation extremely aptly: “This is a story about the power of evil and the powerlessness of good. Everything is clear to everyone, but no one can do anything. In the heart of Europe, a man who has lost his mind and is endowed with an innate instinct for power has taken a whole nation hostage, thrown Maria into prison, and no one can do anything. America has retreated into itself, the European Union pretends not to see, France is worried about what is happening in Afghanistan, Sweden is accustomed to a peaceful life, Elon Musk is busy with space, Greta Thunberg is worried about penguins, English Premier League kneels to apologize to slaves of past centuries, Yoko Ono is tired, and Pope does not interfere in politics."

What else can you add here? If the (Western) world is much more concerned about the slaves of the past centuries, but hardly sees the slaves of today who are deprived of all rights; if it "fights" against various marginalized, powerless "-phobes", but pretends not to see real maniacs/misanthropes who wield unlimited power, then it is no wonder that many people look at this world with undisguised contempt and a sense of superiority.

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