Zubr (political organization)
Encyclopedia
Zubr was a civic youth organization in Belarus
backed by the United States
and western powers in opposition to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka
. The organization drew inspiration from Otpor
student movement (formerly of Yugoslavia) which contributed to the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević
in 2000, and from Gene Sharp
's writings on nonviolent action
. Zubr became noticed internationally in 2005 when US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
, who was visiting Lithuania, met their leaders –, who risked imprisonment upon their return. Some reporters have credited Zubr's leaders with the idea of a 'Denim Revolution'
, which, they hoped would attract popular support as Ukraine
's Orange Revolution
and Georgia
's Rose Revolution
. But, Lukashenko had said:“In our country, there will be no pink or orange, nor even a banana revolution.”
Like many opposition activists, Zubr members are often harassed and imprisoned by Belarus's police and KGB. On December 23, 2005, Zubr activists Pavel Modzharo (Павел Моджаро), Aleksandr Morozov (Александр Морозов) and another colleague were arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, which, they insisted, plainclothes security officers had planted on them. On February 16, 2006, Zubr leaders Aleh Myatselitsa and Pavel Yukhnevich were among the detained after a police break-up of a peaceful protest calling for the release of political prisoners. Two other members were arrested on February 20 for handing out stickers the same day.
During the 2006 presidential election
Zubr had supported Alaksandar Milinkievič
, the opposition United Democratic Forces of Belarus
candidate. After international election monitors criticized the conduct of that election, there were several demonstrations at which protestors flew the Zubr flag next to the first post-independence Belarusian white-red-white tricolour and the EU
flag.
After the elections in 2006, "Zubr" ceased its existence.
, where they met Polish enthusiasts of Belarusian opposition. Together, they made in few actions of support and solidarity for Belarusian democrats:
Polish Division of "Zubr" was virtually independent from the Belarusian one, but the chosen name had some disadvantages, for ex. Polish organization were trying to contact the central in Belarus to consult common activity, and Belarusians living in Poland, working in organizations not friendly towards "Zubr", were refusing cooperation.
Because of this, the organization decided in November 2003 to transform into an association with more neutral name "Union for Democracy in Belarus".
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
backed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and western powers in opposition to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
. The organization drew inspiration from Otpor
Otpor
Otpor! was a civic youth movement that existed as such from 1998 until 2003 in Serbia , employing nonviolent struggle against the regime of Slobodan Milošević as their course of action. In the course of two-year nonviolent struggle against Milosevic, Otpor spread across Serbia and attracted more...
student movement (formerly of Yugoslavia) which contributed to the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
in 2000, and from Gene Sharp
Gene Sharp
Gene Sharp is Professor Emeritus of political science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He is known for his extensive writings on nonviolent struggle, which have influenced numerous anti-government resistance movements around the world.-Biography:Sharp was born in Ohio, the son of an...
's writings on nonviolent action
Nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance is the practice of achieving goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence. It is largely synonymous with civil resistance...
. Zubr became noticed internationally in 2005 when US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
, who was visiting Lithuania, met their leaders –, who risked imprisonment upon their return. Some reporters have credited Zubr's leaders with the idea of a 'Denim Revolution'
Jeans Revolution
The Jeans Revolution was a term used by the democratic opposition in Belarus and their supporters in the West to describe their effort and aspirations as regarding democratic changes in Belarus at the presidential elections of 2006...
, which, they hoped would attract popular support as Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
's Orange Revolution
Orange Revolution
The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political events that took place in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election which was claimed to be marred by massive corruption, voter...
and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
's Rose Revolution
Rose Revolution
The "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after having widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections...
. But, Lukashenko had said:“In our country, there will be no pink or orange, nor even a banana revolution.”
Like many opposition activists, Zubr members are often harassed and imprisoned by Belarus's police and KGB. On December 23, 2005, Zubr activists Pavel Modzharo (Павел Моджаро), Aleksandr Morozov (Александр Морозов) and another colleague were arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, which, they insisted, plainclothes security officers had planted on them. On February 16, 2006, Zubr leaders Aleh Myatselitsa and Pavel Yukhnevich were among the detained after a police break-up of a peaceful protest calling for the release of political prisoners. Two other members were arrested on February 20 for handing out stickers the same day.
During the 2006 presidential election
Belarusian presidential election, 2006
Presidential elections were held in Belarus on 19 March 2006. The result was a victory for incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, who received 84.4% of the vote. However, western observers deemed the elections rigged...
Zubr had supported Alaksandar Milinkievič
Alaksandar Milinkievic
Aliaksandr Uładzimiravič Milinkevič is a Belarusian politician. He was nominated by the leading opposition parties in Belarus to run against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential election on 19 March 2006.-Biography:...
, the opposition United Democratic Forces of Belarus
United Democratic Forces of Belarus
The United Democratic Forces of Belarus is a coalition of political parties participating as the main opposition group during the 2006 presidential election...
candidate. After international election monitors criticized the conduct of that election, there were several demonstrations at which protestors flew the Zubr flag next to the first post-independence Belarusian white-red-white tricolour and the EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
flag.
After the elections in 2006, "Zubr" ceased its existence.
Polish Division of "Zubr"
After the elections in 2001, some of activists went to emigration to PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, where they met Polish enthusiasts of Belarusian opposition. Together, they made in few actions of support and solidarity for Belarusian democrats:
- demonstrations near Belarusian embassy in WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in the anniversary of disappearances of Belarusian oppositionists, and so-called "Chain of Concerned People" - spreading of informational leaflets for PolesPolesthumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
about human rights in BelarusBelarusBelarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,... - cooperation with Polish youth organizations
Polish Division of "Zubr" was virtually independent from the Belarusian one, but the chosen name had some disadvantages, for ex. Polish organization were trying to contact the central in Belarus to consult common activity, and Belarusians living in Poland, working in organizations not friendly towards "Zubr", were refusing cooperation.
Because of this, the organization decided in November 2003 to transform into an association with more neutral name "Union for Democracy in Belarus".
See also
- Liberal revolutionary movements in post-communist Eastern Europe
- Alyaksandr Atroshchankau