Expert: Belarus expects a new wave of protests over the next few years | Estonia
In recent years, about half a million people have left Belarus, the organizers of the conference, stressing that the most active and educated people, intellectuals, scientists, IT specialists are leaving. The purpose of the discussion held on Tuesday is to give the Belarusian opposition an opportunity to be heard, and politicians and experts – to get a detailed picture of what is happening in this country, the “Actual Camera” reports.
Political emigrants forced to leave their homeland are not at all powerless, says Arkady Moshes, director of the research program on the Eastern Neighborhood of the EU and Russia at the Finnish Institute of International Relations.
“They can influence the situation in Belarus by the fact that they do not allow Western politicians to forget about the existence of the problem, to forget about the existence of a dictatorial regime. They can and should contact their relatives and friends who have remained in Belarus. In fact, they have enough a serious role, “says Arkady Moshes, an expert at the Finnish Institute of International Relations.
This revolution ended in defeat, Moshes, now it is necessary to analyze its reasons, continue political work and be ready for changes: Belarus will face a new wave of protests in the coming years, he is sure.
“The current regime is managing in this way, which means that the discontent is getting smaller. It will only grow, and the perceptions of people loyal to the regime will change,” Moshes said.
What can Estonia do in this situation? At least, take a firm stand, says Mikhail Lotman, Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, adding that the principled position of the Estonian MPs was supported by Brussels at the level of the European Parliament and the European Commission.
“So this is” a small country and nothing depends on us “- it depends. You see, we are dripping,” says Mikhail Lotman, Deputy Head of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee.