Third webinar of the series of online workshops

Third webinar of the series of online workshops “New Facets of Political Mobilization in Belarus”

Under initiative supported by the 2020 – 2023 Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid to Eastern Partnership countries programme of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

University of Tartu Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies and The Centre for Eurasian and Russian Studies (CEURUS), in cooperation with Belarusian Student Support Association and Honest University successfully held the third webinar in the series of “New Facets of Political Mobilization in Belarus” on 15 June via Zoom. The webinar focused on geopolitical aspects of the protests, including comparisons with the Ukrainian protests in 2013-2014, as well as implications of the developments in Belarus to security in the Baltic region.

The team of panelists consisted of the following people: Volodymyr Dubovyk (Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University), Sergei Pakhomenko (Mariupol State University of Humanities), Vladimir Sazonov (University of Tartu and Estonian Academy of Security Sciences) and Ryhor Nizhnikau, (Finnish Institute of International Affairs).

Volodymy Dubovyk compared the Belarusian protests to the Ukrainian Euromaidan. He discussed the differences of the political situations before the start of the protests, as well as implications of the Belarusian protests to Ukraine and its role in global affairs.

Sergei Pakhomenko touched upon symbolic framing of the Belarusian protests, drawing parallels with the Ukrainian Euromaidan. According to him, cultural aspects of the protests, including songs performed by protestors, indicate the differences of the nature of the two cases. He also reflected on trends in public opinion of Ukraine on the Belarusian protests.

Vladimir Sazonov transitioned from sociocultural and historical analogies to security issues, placing the Belarusian protests in the Baltic context. He presented findings of the forthcoming report of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Estonia on the implications of the political events in Belarus to security issues of the Baltic states. Sazonov also discussed possible scenarios of the further political developments in Belarus.

Ryhor Nizhnikau discussed relations between Belarus, the EU and its Member States. He traced developments of the EU’s policy towards Belarus and concluded that the EU shows disinterest in making fundamental steps towards the regime change in Belarus.

“The series will now be on a summer break. The next webinar will be held in September on the topic of the impact of COVID-19 in Belarus.”

Registration form on project main page.

For additional information and inquiries please contact Jaak Erik Laja at jaak.erik.laja [ät] ut.ee