Yauhen Afnahel: Charter'97 Is Engine Of Opposition

Honest journalists have always played a decisive role in the revolutionary changes.

Belarusian civil initiative Charter'97 turns 20 years old on November 10.

If the Czechoslovak Charter'77 acted in support of the arrested musicians, the journalistic community has always been the driving force of the Belarusian Charter'97.

One of the leaders of the Belarusian National Congress, the coordinator of the civil campaign European Belarus Yauhen Afnahel told Charter97.org about its role in the history of Belarus.

– In 1997, when the civil initiative Charter'97 was established, you were already an active participant in the Resistance. How did you take the emergence of this initiative?

– Those were years of mass protests. At that time tens of thousands of people participated in rallies, demonstrations took place in the city center, their participants repeatedly rebuffed provocations of the police. But by the autumn of 1997 it became clear that the protests were declining. Supporters of the opposition saw that party leaders often could not come to agreement, they were arguing about the goals and methods of activity.

I remember that the lack of unity among the opposition and criticism of party leadership were the main issues discussed and disputed about between activists of different organizations. Many thought about how to unite the supporters of change.

It was then that the leading independent media published the text of the Charter'97 declaration. Among the first hundred of those who signed the declaration were well-known and respected people – journalists, writers, politicians, musicians, philosophers. The clear and understandable goal of the further struggle – free European Belarus, – was formulated and voiced. And then, despite the counterstand of the authorities, over one hundred thousand signatures were collected under the text of the declaration in a short period of time. This gave us confidence that we would succeed. Charter'97 became a symbol of unity and strength of the opposition.

– What was the Charter's influence on the political processes in the country?

– Then, in the late 90's, its influence was decisive. Actions and campaigns of that time demonstrated it. Alternative presidential elections in 1999, which greatly intimidated the authorities. Marched of Freedom, which attracted tens of thousands of participants. The campaign of boycotting the "elections" to the "parliament" in 2000, which success was recognized even by the official media. This would not have happened without the Charter'97.

Leaders of the initiative offered new creative ideas in organizing protests, which the opposition lacked so much. Charter'97, remaining in the shadows, was like an engine of protests, making other organizations and their leaders "spin" and grow.

– Today the Charter'97 brand is more connected with the same-name website.

– Today, Charter97.org is the main source of prompt and truthful information about what is happening in the country. Unfortunately, many media outlets, including those who consider themselves to be independent, do not write about many processes going on in our society, they are afraid to criticize the authorities, and often just play into its hands. Charter97.org remains an example of honesty and morality. Readers of the website, who often find it difficult to get objective information about what is happening in the country, appreciate this.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the editors of the website for highlighting the protests that have shaken Belarus this year. Thanks to your work we all saw this spring, how many people hate the regime. Honest journalists have always played a decisive role in the revolutionary changes in the totalitarian countries. I am confident that this will be the case in Belarus as well.