Zinaida Mikhnyuk: The Square Exists in Every City Now

The workers are waiting for the moment to speak out.

Late last week, there was a wave of mass street protests in Belarusian cities. Brest and the Brest region turned out to be one of the most active among the regions.

Charter97.org talked to the acting leader of the REP trade union and head of the trade union in the Brest region, Zinaida Mikhnyuk, about the current sentiments in the south-western region of our country:

- Our enterprises have faced hardships earlier. Workers say that they are treated like slaves: wages have not been growing for five years and there is no place to go. Therefore, people now do not believe a word Lukashenka says on TV.

This year, people finally have hope. This spring and summer have become a turning point for the whole country.

At the meeting with blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski on May 2, I said that those who rose from their knees or never kneeled would gather there. When such people are around, you feel the walls of the prison razing down.

At the demonstration held the next day, two women approached and told that I had "reached out" to them. They used to look at the events in the country sitting on a sofa. That was the first time they took part in the street action. Then changes gained strength: more people began to appear at the rallies in Brest. Their fear has gone somehow.

Different people come to us. This has never happened before: the movement has reached everyone. Medical professionals and teachers make up a great part of protesters. Those who couldn't split up at schools come to us: tell children one thing and think in a different way.

People cheered up when they saw the number of us. Indeed, 97% of us long for changes. All this whining "how we can live off" has fallen by the wayside. Changes and freedom are in the air.

June 19, Brest was booming: a line of solidarity stretched for several kilometres. Before that, thousands of people signed for alternative candidates at pickets, the line was as long as in Minsk. We realize that if we rise as these two women, the number of us will exceed those in the army and the police.

I was glad to know that many people lined up in Brest on June 19. In 2010 I was on the Square, there were a lot of us then. However, we failed then... Now I see that new people rise; young people who do not want to tolerate this power. We are much stronger than we were 10 years ago.

- The other day workers of one of the capital enterprises announced their readiness to go on strike if the authorities do not change. They urged others to join them. Are the workers of Brest ready to support such a strike?

- At the beginning of this campaign, I talked to people. The situation in the workers' groups is tense. There are many stories to tell, but I'll tell you one that impressed me.

Women with higher education agree to any job, but their families still lack salaries. Schools alone take too much money! I also remember a man who worked as a law enforcer. He has three children and has to work part-time after retirement. He said: "Do you think I have a good pension for the job when people look at you as if you're a beast?"

Nobody believes a word of a man who has seized power and retained it for 26 years. Lukashenka does not understand that he's losing ground. People say: "We are not slaves of Lukashenka. This country belongs to us, not to him".

People want to act. They are very determined. People intend to stand near the polling stations 24 hours a day. When "commissions" announce fake results to take to the streets and protest in their cities. Everyone should see that there are 97% of us. If there is a strike during the protests, I think that people in the regions will support it.

- What could you say about the sentiments among public servants in the Brest region: ordinary policemen, first responders, officials?

- I think many of them are sick and tired of the "cockroach". When we had trials against the activists fighting the battery plant, the policemen shrugged their shoulders in response to our words. They told it was their job; they had nowhere to go either.

Early this year, when the soldiers were demobilized, I went to Minsk. A young military man was sitting next to me. He told how they were offered to go to the police and nobody agreed because nobody wanted to disperse the Square.

Now the Square exists in every city. People claim their right to exercise the Constitution. Belarusians have the right to re-elect the authorities and they will use it. By peaceful means.

Lukashenka should know that the scenario of 2015 will not work out anymore. Everyone is laughing at his words and actions. Lukashenka has reached the opposite effect by provocations against Tsikhanouski and Babaryka. Every next movement only makes him even more confused. People have cheered up. Tsikhanouski made us much braver.

- You wrote on Facebook that "Brest Fortress demands freedom to Seviarynets, Statkevich, Tsikhanouski, Babaryka and all political prisoners!" In 2018, you already said: I'm a fortress and I carry into combat.

- Yes, I remember that. Since then, our fortress has become stronger. More people joined us. The determination of the garrison has increased.

I saw the quote in the Brest Fortress: "The war made its first step here, the victory did the same as well". I think it makes a great sense. Today we also take an important step to victory. Brest people take to the Square every Sunday for a reason. On June 19 people all over the country lined up as a sign of solidarity for a reason. We are all now a fortress, which starts a decisive battle.

Now decent sons of Belarus are behind bars. We must seek their release. The more statements and actions in their support take place, the better. People say that Lukashenka can only lie. We are ready for a fair fight. Let him try to win from us!

People are already taking to the streets in mass. It means that the turning point takes place. Many people are waiting for the right moment to act. Workers at the enterprises are also waiting for the moment to speak out.

- Do you think this moment will come this summer?

- I want it very much. We have to go into battle and believe in victory. I believe that Belarusians are as decent as other nations. Now we have a real civil society being formed. Many used to say that we have neither this nor a national idea. I believe that we have it all. Here it is, our national idea. Look, it has already taken to the streets.

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