Zubr (Belarusian: ЗУБР) was a civic youth organization of the Belarusian opposition, formerly active in protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. The organization drew inspiration from Otpor! student movement[citation needed] (formerly of Yugoslavia) which contributed to the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević in 2000, and from Gene Sharp's writings on nonviolent action.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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.[1] However, Lukashenko had said that "In our country, there will be no pink or orange, nor even a banana revolution".[2]

Like many other opposition activists,[3][4][5] Zubr members are often harassed and imprisoned by Belarus's police and KGB.[6][7][8] On 23 December 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.[9][10][11] On 16 February 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.[12] Two other members were arrested on 20 February 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.[13]

After the elections in 2006, "Zubr" ceased its existence.

Polish Division of "Zubr"

After the elections in 2001, some of the activists went to emigration to Poland, where they met Polish supporters of the Belarusian opposition. Together, they made several actions of support and solidarity for Belarusian democrats:

The Polish Division of "Zubr" was virtually independent from the Belarusian one, but the chosen name had some disadvantages. For example, the Polish organization were trying to contact the organization in Belarus to consult common activity, and Belarusians living in Poland, working in organizations not friendly towards "Zubr", refused cooperation.

Because of this, the organization decided in November 2003 to rename the organization to "Union for Democracy in Belarus", a more neutral name.

See also

References

  1. ^ Belarusians Wear Jeans in Silent Protest, Charlotte Sector, ABC News, 16 January 2006.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  2. ^ Banana Revolutions and Banana Skins, Andres Schipani-Aduriz, Alyaksandr Kudrytski, Transitions Online, Prague, 7 September 2005 Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  3. ^ Artur Finkevich, Political Prisoner Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Charter 97, Minsk, undated. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  4. ^ Zmitser Dashkevich, Political Prisoner, Charter 97, Minsk, undated Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  5. ^ Belarusian youth activists face long prison sentences, Radio Free Europe, 4 May 2006 Archived 15 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  6. ^ Members of “Zubr” arrested, Prima Human Rights News Agency, Moscow, 15 March 2004 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  7. ^ 12 Human rights activists detained in Minsk, Prima Human Rights News Agency, Moscow, 17 January 2006 Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  8. ^ Belarus: Tightening the screws on dissent, Amnesty International, London, 14 March 2006[permanent dead link].Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  9. ^ Charter 97, Minsk, 26 December 2005 Archived 27 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  10. ^ Belarus Indymedia, Indymedia UK, 29 December 2005 Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  11. ^ Zubr Activists Detained in Barysau, Charter 97, Minsk, 20 February 2006 Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  12. ^ A Day of Solidarity with belarus, Solidarity 16, undated Archived 6 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  13. ^ Belarus: Protesters Hold Vigil Amid Continuing Crackdown, Jean-Christophe Peuch, Radio Free Europe, 22 March 2006 Archived 16 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved 11 August 2007.
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