Dziadok shared how he would act in today's Belarus and what will happen next
Former political prisoner and blogger Mikoła Dziadok, in a new episode of TOK, shared his vision of how one should live in today's Belarus under conditions of total control, reflecting on freedom, fear, and the future of the country after the release of political prisoners.
Mikoła Dziadok. Video screenshot: TOK_talk / YouTube
When asked what rules he would adhere to if he were living in Belarus today, where total video surveillance is in place, Dziadok answered that he would try to maximally "mimic a law-abiding citizen."
At the same time, he advises using a VPN and Tor browser, engaging in self-development, because "work on oneself is also revolutionary work."
"Not to prepare a new society, because there is no such objective possibility. To prepare oneself for a new society. To learn at least not to lie. To learn to help one's neighbor. Read more, watch fewer reels, prepare a safety cushion for a rainy day — technical and financial, and also strengthen trust and social ties in one's circles," Mikoła argues.
"One cannot be happy in unfreedom"
The interview also touched upon the question of whether a person can be happy in conditions of unfreedom.
Dziadok is convinced that no. He argues that "freedom is our instinct. One cannot be happy in unfreedom. (...) No one can be happy in unfreedom, not even the coarsest nature."
The blogger sharply criticizes the widespread opinion that most people only need material well-being, and freedom is only necessary for intellectuals and romantics.
"Take any of these philosophers and put them in a cell for at least two weeks. Feed them, water them, treat them well, don't beat them, but just let them sit in a cell, in a situation of limited capabilities of their own body. They will immediately ask for freedom. All people who say that people don't need freedom will immediately miss freedom," the blogger and former political prisoner argues.
The blogger also does not believe that the fear in which many Belarusians live today is capable of turning into a national trait. In his opinion, fear is an unnatural state for a person and will disappear quickly enough once the causes that provoke it vanish.
"Sooner or later it will explode, because physics"
"How do you see the situation in Belarus after the release of all political prisoners? What will we come to?" asked Nasta Roŭda.
"It may happen that we won't come to anything, because instead of those released, new ones will be arrested," Mikoła replied and asked not to forget that repressions in Belarus continue today: people are detained, fired from work, and persecuted.
"To say that with the release of even all or most people from the official 'Viasna' list, something will fundamentally change, is not appropriate. This, of course, is good, it's a wonderful event, but it will not be the watershed after which something will radically change," the blogger believes.
When asked if the regime could simply stabilize and freeze, the blogger noted that after the events of 2020, it will never return to true stability.
"And now it is not in a state of stability. Because if the state system is forced to exert such colossal efforts to maintain itself, then this is not stability. This is not normal functioning of the state apparatus when such an abyss of resources is spent on security. This should not be in a healthy state organism," Mikoła explains.
The blogger compared the current Belarusian situation to a steam boiler that constantly needs to be repaired and patched in various places.
"Sooner or later it will explode, because physics," the blogger stated.
The path to national reconciliation through national repentance
"Is reconciliation possible in Belarus after everything that has happened?" Nasta inquired.
"I want all those guilty of violence to be punished, after which I will gladly reconcile with them," Dziadok replied. And emphasized:
"We must take measures to ensure that these strong supporters of Lukashenka never come to power in the foreseeable future. We cannot allow a revanche.
After Lukashenka's overthrow, Belarus must take irreversible steps so that this entire page is not just turned, but sealed forever in our history exactly as it is.
We can talk about national reconciliation when there is national repentance. As it was in the apartheid regime in South Africa, as it was in some other dictatorial regimes."
Now reading
"Thank you, Lena! Continue your observation." The officer who wrote to Kharysavaya frequented political emigration chats, and even offered to exchange nudes with some girls. 67
Comments