Aleh Vouchak: Authorities try to distract public attention from poverty

The economic situation in the country is getting worse, and the authorities need to create an illusion of controlling the situation.

Belarusian ruler Aliaksandr Lukashenka signed decree No. 356 on August 18 that approves the provision on the establishment of commissions against extremism and terrorism. Such commissions will be set up by decisions of regional executive committees and the Minsk executive committee in regions and Minsk respectively.

Aleh Vouchak, the head of the human rights centre Legal Assistance for Citizens, said in an interview with charter97.org about possible motives, aims and consequences of the decree:

– When I learnt about the decree, I thought that the economic state was deteriorating again: the dollar is growing against the Belarusian ruble, companies are cutting staff, people in regions begin to demand higher wages and Minsk residents begin to struggle against infill constructions in residential areas.

What got my attention is the phrase saying that the commissions can work in places of mass gatherings. The decree is most likely to be connected to the “elections” and has the aim of sowing panic among people. The authorities want people to think: 'peace and stability' are more important than low wages and violations of rights.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka was apparently informed that most “candidates” failed to collect the necessary number of signatures. The only thing that the authorities can offer to citizens is to scare them with “extremist groups”.

There's another thing that I didn't like: why create additional bodies if we already have the KGB, the Interior Ministry, Almaz special anti-terrorism squad, Analytical Centre under the aegis of the president and the Security Council that coordinates all law-enforcement agencies. Why create anything new?

The only possible explanation is that they want to distract public attention from real problems, from poverty first of all. The commissions will be headed by chairs of regional executive committees, non-professionals who don't bear any relation to the issue. I doubt they understand what “extremism” is.

– Who can be labelled as an “extremist” in the first place, in your opinion?

– Even we, legal practitioners, can't give a clear definition. Everything can be labelled so, even football fans who say “Down with authorities” or sunbathers who speak about “freedom” after the arrest.

The economic situation in the countries is deteriorating, and the authorities need to create an illusion of controlling the situation and involve as many officials as possible in the process. The authorities are far from people, so they invent these committees and commissions to control moods in society.