Leader of the Belarusian Democratic Forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also made the same point during a visit to Tallinn this week, saying it is important not to put Russians and Belarusians “into one basket.”
“We are two countries with different contexts /…/ This is what irritates people,” she said. “In this case, we have to distinguish the Belarusian people from the Belarusian regime.”
Voting rights decision “fair”
While the debate around voting rights rages on, the ABO does not dispute the decision lawmakers have come to.
“We understand this is a matter of Estonia’s internal affairs and recognize it is aimed at safeguarding national security. Furthermore, many European countries (including Belarus) do not grant voting rights to foreigners in local elections at all. Therefore, we find such a decision to be fair and timely,” the appeal says.
Valgevene Maja’s Irina Suursild said some Belarusians who moved to Estonia during the Soviet occupation still hold views sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
“They are quite easy prey for Moscow and through this group, Moscow can manipulate and influence the situation in the country,” she told ERR News.
She said the younger members of the diaspora, which research shows are almost all anti-Putin and anti-Lukashenko, do not want to be associated with this group either. This is why it is also important for politicians to realize the “uniqueness” of the community and its problems, Suursild added.
Irina Suursild at the Estonia’s Belarusian community marked ‘Night of Executed Poets’ on October 29, 2024. Source: Diana Olesjuk
Belarusians cannot renew their documents – such as passports – outside the country or renounce their citizenship. Lukashenko’s regime punishes opposition members with prison sentences or large fines if they return to the country.
This means many Belarusians are stuck in limbo, unable to move forward with their lives in Estonia. This includes Suursild who has lived in Estonia for seven years and is married to an Estonian. The ABO is looking for help from the government moving forward.
Suursild helped draft the ABO appeal and said the group has been discussing it for approximately six months.
She said MPs may not realize they are equating Russia and Belarus, but it can still create problems for the community. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the two countries have been seen as a “duet of two regimes.”
“[But] we are not Russians. Yes, our languages are from one linguistic group, but we are absolutely different and they must understand that,” Suursild said.
The ABO is made up of nine NGOs. Five signed the appeal: Valgevene Maja, Valgevene Uus Tee MTÜ, Valgevene Kultuuri Assotsiatsioon MTÜ, Kohalike kogukondade tugikeskuse “WindRose” MTÜ, and Friida Bell MTÜ.
The organization estimates between 1,000 and 2,000 Belarusians have permanent residence in Estonia.
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Publish date : 2024-11-20 06:50:00
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