“Does the Political Regime in Belarus Change” at Kennan Institute on April 27
Alexandra Goujon will give a talk “Does the Political Regime in Belarus Change” on Monday, April 27 at noon at Kennan Institute.
Alexandra Goujon is an Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Bourgogne, Dijon, and Lecturer, Institute for Political Studies, Paris. Here is the event’s introduction:
Alexander Lukashenka has been the president of Belarus for almost 15 years. Since he came to power, the political regime has become more and more authoritarian: there is no conventional opposition, independent media are weak, and collective action is repressed. For almost one year, the Belarusian president has taken some political steps such as the liberation of political prisoners. Regarding these steps as a positive development, the European Union loosened sanctions against Belarus in October 2008. But does the political regime in Belarus change? To answer this, we need to examine the motivations behind the changes, and the concrete consequences on the system of government.
Read more at Kennan Institute web site.
Навіны Вашынгтонскага гуртка БАЗА / News of the Washington Chapter of BAZA
28 лютага адбыўся чарговы сход гуртка Беларуска-Амэрыканскага Задзіночаньня ў горадзе Вашынгтоне, у якiм узялi ўдзел 12 сяброў.
Сход пачаўся са справаздачы былой старшынi Алесi Сёмухi аб дзейнасьцi гуртка за апошні год. Потым было абранае новае кiраўнiцтва ў складзе двух су-старшынь Алесi Кіпель i Яраслава Крывога (з абавязкамi скарбнiка), а таксама сакратара Вячаслава Бортнiка.
Асаблiвая ўвага ўдзельнiкаў сходу была нададзена абмеркаваньню традыцыйных сакавiцкiх вiзытаў у Кангрэс ЗША, прысьвечаных угодкам незалежнасьцi БНР (25 сакавiка). Былi вызначаныя практычныя крокi па арганізацыі вiзiтаў, а таксама адказныя за iх выкананьне. Падрыхтоўчую сустрэчу было вырашана правесьцi ў Роквiле, штат Мэрыленд, 21 сакавiка.
Сход таксама абмеркаваў дзейнасьць гуртка на далейшаю пэрспэктыву: удзел у Кангрэсе БАЗА ў траўні сёлета, стратэгii па прыцягненьні новых сябраў, наладжваньне кантактаў з iншымi нацыянальнымi дыяспарамi i мясцовымi недзяржаўнымі арганізацыямі (НДА), разьвiцьцё культурнага напрамку дзейнасьцi, выкарыстоўваньне ў працы сучасных iнфармацыйных тэхналогiяў.
News of the Washington Chapter of BAZA
A regular meeting of the Washington, DC circle of the Belarusian-American Association took place on February 28, 2009, with 12 members participating.
The meeting began with a report by the former President, Alesya Semukha, about the activities of the circle during the past year. Later, new leadership was selected, consisting of two Co-Presidents, Alice Kipel and Yaraslau Kryvoi (also with the responsibilities of Treasurer), and Viachaslau Bortnik as Secretary.
Particular attention was paid by meeting participants to planning for the traditional March visits to the U.S. Congress, dedicated to the anniversary of the independence of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (March 25). Practical steps for organizing the visits were identified, as well as the persons responsible for their execution. It was decided to hold a preparatory meeting in Rockville, MD, on March 21.
Meeting participants also planned the activities of the circle for the longer term: participation in the BAZA Congress in May of this year, strategies for attracting new members, establishing contacts with other nationalities’ diaspora groups and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the development of a cultural aspect to the circle’s activities, and use of new information technologies in the group’s work.
