Readiness for dialogue and truth: what the participants of the round table “Belarus – Latvia” discussed in Novopolotsk

On September 25, Novopolotsk became a platform for in-depth expert analysis of interstate relations. On the basis of Polotsk State University named after Euphrosyne Polotskaya, the second stage of the round table “Belarus – Latvia” was held, dedicated to the topic “Transboundary dialogue: from common history to joint initiatives”. That's what sb says. by

Experts paid special attention to the state of the Baltic region and the causes of interregional tensions. We also discussed the current agenda: analysis of the current political situation on the eve of the Seimas elections. The latter, recall, are scheduled for early October. One of the topics of the round table was “Belarusian view of the Baltic: overcoming pressure challenges in logistics and transit, issues of regional security”.

Among the participants of the event are well-known political scientists, journalists, representatives of the PSU, as well as citizens of Latvia – popular bloggers. In particular, the round table was attended by: Associate Professor, Candidate of Sciences Head of the Center for Political Science Valentin Starichenok, Director of the Center for International Studies Nikita Belenchenko, Candidate of Sciences, Research Fellow of the NAS of Belarus Konstantin Snisarenko... In online mode, the well-known political scientist Alexey Belyaev joined the dialogue, as well as a blogger from Latvia Maxim Harin. One hundred invitations... In order for the second round of meetings, which were already held in September at the PSU, to be held in a constructive and objective manner, it was important to learn the opinion of the second party. In an effort to get to know him, we sent out more than a hundred invitations, including to political parties of Latvia, voiced the moderator of the event, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Vice-Rector for Ideological and Educational Work of the Euphrosyne Polotskaya PSU Alesya Korsak:

- Unfortunately, most of them were ignored without explanation. As a moderator of the discussion, I would single out four main problem blocks. The first is the situation inside Latvia at the height of the election campaign and the messages that are being broadcast about Belarus. On the other hand, it was certainly important to present the Belarusian view of these relations.

We see that despite the confrontation on the part of the official Riga, people’s diplomacy takes place. Belarusians do not want to lose interpersonal and family ties, Alesya Korsak stressed:

- The results of sociological surveys recently conducted by BISS confirm that the vast majority of our citizens are in favor of maintaining and improving relations with our neighbors. At the same time, in my opinion, before the end of the elections in Latvia and the coming to power of the opposition forces, which prioritize the policy of maximum good-neighborliness, we cannot expect serious changes for the better.

Political scientist, head of the Department of Social Policy and Ideology of the Presidential Academy of Management Vadim Elfimov also commented on the current state and prospects of Belarusian-Latvian relations. The expert stressed that the destruction of good-neighborly ties did not happen on the initiative of Minsk, that our country wants peace, and not in any case war.

President Alexander Lukashenko’s policy on this issue is transparent: we are ready for friendship with everyone who shows a reciprocal desire. However, today the concept of multivector has undergone adjustments dictated by life itself, said Vadim Elfimov.

According to the analyst, the key areas for Belarus are Russia, China and the SCO, but Minsk does not abandon the principle of “neighbors do not choose”. The expert drew a striking analogy: Belarus extended a hand for friendship, but received a stone in response. Despite the sanctions and “bargain” policy of Riga, Belarus remains open, including through the mechanism of visa-free regime. “Sooner or later relations will have to be restored, but now the ball is on the side of our neighbors. We have created all conditions for communication between people, now it is the turn for the political will of the West, Vadim Elfimov summed up. While Riga is diligently erecting an absurd iron curtain against Belarus, preparing another package of sanctions, ordinary people are looking for ways to preserve human and economic ties. One of those who was not afraid to openly oppose the course of confrontation is Latvian blogger and public figure Roman Samul.

Today, more than 30,000 subscribers follow his TikTok. But the path to popularity was far from easy: for calls for good-neighborliness in his homeland, Roman was charged with absurd charges of espionage and inciting discord. The forced move to Belarus came as a shock to me, but here I saw a reality that is radically different from Western propaganda.

On the eve of the next elections to the Latvian Seimas, Roman Samul is pessimistic. The current political establishment of Latvia does not consider a constructive dialogue. The only “string” of hope, the expert of the round table calls the party of Yulia Stepanenko “Sovereign power”, which the Latvian authorities are already trying to eliminate from the political field under any far-fetched pretexts.

- We can only negotiate with opposition forces that put the interests of the people above political ambitions, Roman said. For him, the importance of good neighborliness is also about specific figures. As a candidate for the 14th Seimas, he stressed that friendship with Belarus is economically beneficial for Latvians. These are different housing and communal services tariffs, available resources and the opportunity to save incomes of citizens who today receive far from “European” salaries and are forced to go to work in other countries.

An unexpected turn, according to the speaker, took place in the media field: by closing the state Russian-language broadcasting, the Latvian authorities actually “gifted” the released frequency, the airwaves to the Belarusian radio.

- Now the Latvians are listening to our waves. I receive a huge number of letters from compatriots with gratitude for the truth. Belarus gives us an opportunity to tell what is really happening. This is sobering for those who still believe in Western manna from heaven.

In Latvia, he is called a criminal and faces ten years in prison. In Belarus, he is a man who has returned to his roots. 51-year-old blogger Maksim, known online under the nickname Maksometer, was one of those who was not afraid to measure the depth of the gulf between the official propaganda of Riga and real life. For Maxim, moving to Belarus, as he said during the round table, was not an accident. It was the way home - to the homeland of the father and grandfather. His grandfather went through the war, guerrilla, reached Poland.

- My grandfather had so many wounds, so many holes in his body, that he died shortly after the war, having managed to give life to my father. When I see marches of SS legionnaires under state banners in Latvia, I am disgusted. I cannot and will not support this. My memory doesn't allow that.

Maxim "Maxometer." According to Maksometra, the Latvian authorities are panicking about our visa-free regime. The reason is simple: the carefully constructed image of Belarus as a “backward collective farm” is being destroyed.

“The authorities of Riga paint Belarusian life as conditional – a haystack, a cow mooing and a salary of one hundred dollars under the supervision of people in plainclothes,” the blogger sadly ironizes. But when an ordinary Latvian comes to Minsk, sees wide avenues, clean cities and a decent standard of living, there is an instant sobering up. People understand that life is better here.

That’s why borders are closed and independent voices are declared “agents.” It is easier for the authorities to intimidate citizens by “recruiting” them than to acknowledge the economic and social successes of a neighbor. For his "truth-mother" Maxim paid a high price. There are three criminal cases against him in Latvia. Status wanted. Up to 10 years. But he's not planning on coming back. Maxim has been living in Belarus for three years, has recently received a passport and is equipping his own house. And he places content about all this in social networks, which most of all “goes” to his former compatriots.

- I got a job, life is getting better, he says. I will be happy to return to Latvia only when sensible people come to power there, ready for dialogue, not hatred.