A lesson of Belarusian # 1 of 6 - English subtitles

A Lesson of Belarusian is documentary from the former Soviet republic of Belarus. The country is often labelled the last dictatorship in Europe, ruled by president Aleksander Lukashenko's arbitrary and ruthless iron fist. In many ways, the country has reversed time and now follows the logic from its Soviet legacy and replaced the mentality, economics, structures of society, language, national flag and symbols with that of its Soviet past. Hence it is the state, which has the monopoly on ultimate power, which is being used to steer and control all aspects of the citizens' life. Since A. Lukahsenko was elected president in 1994, he has used the state to wage a "cold civil war" against all aspects of opposition, in his effort to create a stable country with a conformed and isolated population, who only follows the orders from the president - whose legitimacy cannot be questioned. This harassment has prevented the emergence of an effective civic society and a political opposition, which could counterweight the president's power monopoly.

In this atmosphere the documentary follows a young activists who never gives up believing that Belarus one day will be free and democratic. Franek Viacorka studies at an elite school (lyceum) established by his father to promote the Belarusian language and culture. However, the school has been banned and operating underground since 2003, a victim of the anti-democratic rule of President Lukashenko. Franek and his classmates are both passionate and thoughtful, expressing their critical attitude to the government by issuing an underground newspaper, recording music with activist lyrics and organizing an opposition concert.

Despite the imprisonment of Franek's father and the constant threat of their own arrest, they are undeterred. In the March 2006 presidential re-election, they support the democratic opposition candidate in a mass demonstration in Minsk's main square. While the candidate is powerless to combat Lukashenko's corruption and use of riot police, Franek and his classmates realize that fearlessness is a victory in itself. The documentary is an eye-opener to the hearts and minds of free activists, who fight for an idea larger than themselves.

Recently the regime labelled the documentary as extreme material; unworthy and forbidden to watch in the country!

Director & writer: Miroslaw Dembinski

The whole documentary can be downloaded free and legally at Vuze.com
http://www.vuze.com/details/AMNKYBDMQNUZFZFLM2G2PROF63YJMGN3.html?a=SALL&...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Belarus
• białoruski
• Franak Vieczorka
• opozycjonista
• Minsk
• Мінск
• Минск
• bialoruskiego
• documentary
• Alexander Lukašenka
• Russia
• Poland
• dyktatury
• dictatorship
• Диктатура
• Дыктатура
• KGB
• slavic
• opposition
• Aleksandra Łukaszenki
• Lukashanka
• soviet
• gulag
• police
• prison
• Ukraine
• election
• president

[ImSoFuckingHandsome]

Belarussians and Ukrainians are the real Rus'. We all called ourselves Rusyny and or Rusy, not "ruski". While the Russians at that time called themselves "Moskvytyn". We both called our language Rus'ka Mova not Yazik as the Russians do. Before Peter the Great, not a single person in Moskovia called themselves "Ruskyj". When we were under foreign rule we still called ourselves Rusyny. Moscuvy as russians say, is also Rus', but they never called themselves "people of the rus'".

[HerryDRK]

thank you so much.

As Ukrainian I fully understand and support you... Never give up, your freedom is too big of a price.

[IonIsFalling7217]

@Wyldstylist I'm from the United States, and one component of our doctrine of freedom is that not all of us support what our government does. A few bad apples make the whole bag smell bad, but most of the apples are still good. I, for example, am neither genocidal nor no steroids.

[fiannafailscum]

Fair play to these young people. Do NOT let them take away your language, occupiers did that to my country, Ireland, and we have no real claim to nationality without the Irish language. Keep up the good fight, remember you have sympathisers throughout the world.

[Diminisch]

@MEpianist i never meant to imply that we should divide ourselves by ethnic lines. Just saying that culturally slavs have more in common than different. you have taken my comment way out of context.

[Wyldstylist]

@Kbabykgirlk By spreading the message usa wants you to spread , terrorists attacked Libya and your terrorists tried with belarus but you fail to crush the spirit of socialism and Belarus has no need for IMF or goldman sachs

[Kbabykgirlk]

@Wyldstylist BTW you never answered to my question,why so? or you have no answer? How am I being their lapdog? How can you even be one? I really wanna know, it just so intresting :)

[Wyldstylist]

@Kbabykgirlk USA is full of genocidal maniacs who supported the agression in Libya and backed al qaeda and bombed neighborhoods. You are backing nazis on steroids..

[Wyldstylist]

@Kbabykgirlk you are in support of 5th columnists , only in Vietnam Afghanistan Libya and Iraq USA have killed more than the nazis , Today USA and Nato are nazis on steroids and you are the enemy of all free people for being their lapdog. *shirokaaa strana moia rodnayaa*