Belarus...the aftermath in Minsk

[mendeleyev]

Charter 97, the web communications unit of the Belarussian opposition is back on the web, at least for now. It was hit with multiple server attacks and knocked off the day after the bomb blast rocked Minsk's busy Metro station, метро Октябрьская (October station) on Monday.

The attacks are ongoing so if you can't reach the pages at www.charter97.org, keep trying. You may also google Belarus blogs because site administrators have been using a variety of IP addresses to try and coordinate communications between opposition leaders and the outside world. The Belarus blog community has been very active in the bombing aftermath.

This morning (Wednesday) site administrators say that the attacks are continuing with varying intensity.

(75.125.122.107)

The administrations believe that "amid the increased attention of visitors to the tragedy in Minsk metro, we regard the attack as a desire of Belarusian special services to limit the right of Belarusians for obtaining independent information."

Even when reaching the site most links are disabled.

Latest report of bomb casualities: The official death toll is 12 as of this writing.


(Photos: Anna Ivanova, Minsk)

[mendeleyev]

From Wednesday's Mendeleyev Journal:

Members of the governments of Belarus and Russia will meet again on Thursday (14 April) regarding the bailout so desperately needed by the failed economic policies of the Communist regime of Belarussian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

At their April 11 meeting in Moscow the delegation from Belarus signaled that Minsk is ready to listen to Moscow on the direction of economic policies Belarus might implement in the near term. On 31 March Belarus as asked Russia and other former Soviet partners for a $3 billion bailout loan.  

Belarus is a willing partner in the Customs and Postal Union proposed by Russia, forging an integration of the Customs and Postal services for Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The services would be primarily controlled by Moscow. It is expected that Ukraine and possibly Uzbekistan will at some point join the Union.

Just last week Russia and Belarus signed agreements which will combine functions of Russian and Belarussian military and security communications into one centralized system, led primarily by the Russian side.

Dictator Lukashenko lives at 38 Karl Marksa Street in Minsk. The postal (zip) code is 220016 in case you’re firing up the ole GPS unit for a run around the block to see how close he lives to the underground subway station that was bombed on Monday.

[Muzh]

Mendy. Either he crushes the opposition, jails half the population and becomes emperor for life or there will be a revolt, a bloody one.

[mendeleyev]

Muzh, as you already know he boldly speaks of himself as "president for life' (as does the president of Kazakhstan) and in the recent 20 December joke of an "election" he displayed his minor age son casting a vote while on national TV (clearly contrary to the Belarussian Constitution) and joked about it to TV commentators and cameramen.

[mendeleyev]

From the most recent Mendeleyev Journal:


The president/dictator of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has announced that two suspects have confessed to carrying out a subway bomb attack which killed 12 people and wounded another 200 in Minsk. Today is a national day of mourning across Belarus. All 12 have been identified with several funerals scheduled today.

As reported by BBC Europe “We already know who committed this terrorist act and how,” he declared.“The only thing is we don’t yet know why, but that will also be known soon.” The bomb was packed with nails and ball bearings amd blasted Oktyabrskaya station at rush hour on Monday evening. The two suspects were Belarusian men and the government said that arrests were made near 5am Tuesday morning.

"Tuesday’s arrests took place ”without noise, shots or hassle“, Lukashenko said, leading the opposition to suspect that the government may have had a hand in events surrounding the killing of 12 citizens with hundreds more seriously wounded. Lukasheno in the past has show little compassion for his citizens when interests collide.

The dictator claimed that CCTV footage showed one of the men placing a bag near a bench on the platform at Oktyabrskaya metro station, then reaching for something in his jacket pocket just as the explosion happened.

As usual when faced with mounting opposition to his forced rule, Lukashenko hinted that his opposition may hold the keys to why the blast occurred. Western observers quickly point out however that Lukashenko’s opposition has no history of violent protest, one reason for the massive public support for opposition candidates and Lukashenko’s dismal showing in popularity polls.

Mr Lukashenko congratulated the police on a “brilliant” operation and called for a thorough “cleansing” of society. Employing massive election fraud, Lukashenko has maintained his rule over Belarus since 1994.


(photos: Anna Ivanova & V Voolchitza)

[mendeleyev]

Mendeleyev Journal:

Chapter 97.org, the communications arm for the Belarus opposition, is reporting that Maryna Shubich, a five-year student of Belarusian State Economic University, was still trapped under the rubble at 8:20 pm, as Alexander Lukashenko and his son Nikolai, toured the station.

Traveling with a friend, the 23 year old student was going to get off the train on the Oktyabrskaya metro station. Her friend got off at the previous station. Hearing about the blast, her friend ran to Oktyabrskaya and remained there till midnight.

Maryna was evacuated only at 11 in the evening, as the “Nasha Niva” newspaper reports. Her injuries were so severe that friends could identify her only through clothing.

Maryna’s parents who live in Mahilou left for Minsk as the young student was rushed to City Clinic Hospital #3.

[Maxx2]

Probably a government sponsored false flag operation similar to the Red brigade bombing of a train station in 1980, "Operation Gladio". Something to unite the people and distract them from some other criminality the government it involved in.

[Muzh]

Probably a government sponsored false flag operation similar to the Red brigade bombing of a train station in 1980, "Operation Gladio". Something to unite the people and distract them from some other criminality the government it involved in.

Funny, 83% of Belarussians agree with you.

[mendeleyev]

The traditional 3 days of "vigil" has passed so funerals began today and will continue tomorrow for those who perished in Minsk.

вечная память (May their memory be eternal!) In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The most important anthem of the funeral liturgy consists solely of those two words, вечная память, sung 3 times to represent the Trinity.

Listen here:


Often a bus or a minivan is hired to carry the casket. When a bus is used the custom is for the family to travel in the bus along with the deceased to the Church and the Cemetery.

[mendeleyev]

At death the Church serves a special vigil over the body, the service called traditionally the parastasis or panikhida, both of which mean a "watch" or an "all-night vigil." Parts of the panikhida are repeated in later months and at the 1 year anniversary of the death.

Orthodox Christians believe the body of the Christian is sacred since it was the temple of the Holy Spirit and will be restored at the resurrection. Creamation is not an acceptable burial form for an Orthodox person.

The Russian Orthodox funeral consists of three services which are the vigil, or Trisagion, after death and is usually conducted by a priest at the wake. The funeral liturgy is conducted at the church with the body present on the day of burial. Normally, the divine liturgy (Mass) is celebrated at the end as it represents the hope of resurrection to the living. Lastly, the vigil is repeated at the graveside.

When possible it is traditional for the person to be buried with their head facing West and feet facing East so that when Christ returns for the resurrection one can be already facing the right direction (East) upon rising from the dead.

Funeral always end with a funeral banquet with foods of celebration and
поминали кутья —a special kind of boiled rice with raisins along with other foods.

A memorial panikhida (vigil) is observed in the church on the 3rd, 9th and
40th days after death and at the 1 year anniversary.

During the forty days following the funeral, a special towel may be kept on the window-frame and a cup of water on a window-sill. The soul of the dead is given 40 days to wander the earth and see his past life so the towel and cup of water symbolize that home remains a place of rest during this time. On the fortieth day the towel can be shaken out at the cemetery with the words "The soul may now go where the body has gone" is sometimes recited. Then the towel is burned or placed in the river to float away downstream.

Note the photos as you'll see that some gravesites include either a small bench, a small table, or both. The bench is for the purpose of visiting the departed later a table is for leaving cermonial servings of food and wine/vodka on certain dates for the "wandering" soul. It was this soul wandering belief that led so many older Russians to leave, for years, an empty chair, etc, for Iosef (Joseph) Stalin after his death. Many felt that he had so much for which to repent that his wandering over the earth might continue for decades.

My first graveside experiences were for relatives, visiting and cleaning the grave of my late father in law and my wife's late stepfather. As an Orthodox believer natually I've attended other funerals and vigils as well.

[mendeleyev]

Althought the Orthodox church is for the most part very standardized on how it conducts these services, my explanation of the funeral and burial traditions above is intended to be neither exhaustive nor definitive. Depending on regional and other influences you may see some variances, just as one can see with wedding ceremonies. 

[mendeleyev]

The number of arrests is conflicted now (8am Moscow/7am Minsk)...the Associated Press and the BBC are reporting different numbers. The Belarussian KGB says 3, and at this point refuse to release the identity of the 3rd suspect. The KGB says all 3 quickly confessed.

As usual however the KGB is lying because on very good sources the BBC is reporting that "several" (more than 3) opposition leaders around the country have been detained and brought in for questioning. Given the KGB's love for violence in Belarus, one can only whisper a silent prayer for those being "questioned."

[Maxx2]

Senator Lieberman sticking his beak into the Belarussian situation

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELbj1hB72zo&feature=player_embedded#at=288[/youtube]

Wall Street Journal on $120,000,000 in aid by foreign governments for the opposition movement in Belarus

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704775604576120260685411334.html

[Anotherkiwi]

Althought the Orthodox church is for the most part very standardized on how it conducts these services, my explanation of the funeral and burial traditions above is intended to be neither exhaustive nor definitive. Depending on regional and other influences you may see some variances, just as one can see with wedding ceremonies.

Thank you mendeleyev for such an enlightening set of posts.  Although I saw the table and seats at some graves in the Botanical Garden Cemetery in Moscow, I had no idea what they represented.

[Maxx2]

There's something about having some booze on hand in the house for the ancestors.

[mendeleyev]

Monday's Mendeleyev Journal:

One can almost appreciate that President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has donated two of his monthly salaries to a charity account for the victims of the terrorist act in Minsk metro.

Almost.

But in a country where most of the citizens are poorer than its neighbors, we will decline to be impressed and instead ask why should a dictator deserve more than one salary? Oh, we get it—a man who jails his opposition and rigs elections can take all the salaries he wants. But please, sir, you should be ashamed of having more than one salary instead of bragging about it.

As we’re in a defiant mood, while one can appreciate the presidential press office “suggestion” that we take ALL news of Belarus solely from state channels, we’ll pass. Neither you nor your state organs can be trusted. We understand very clearly what is meant by “you are recommended to apply to the Belarus Legislation Databank for the information” but the questions being asked will come from many sides until answered.

Questions:
1-   Less than 24 hours after the Oktyabrskaya Metro bombing in Minsk, your security forces arrested 2, then later 3 additional suspects. All have reportedly “confessed” but you’ve neither identified them nor allowed independent sources to verify their alleged confessions. When will they be identified?

2-   Less than 24 hours after the bombing, you proclaimed on state television that the crime had been SOLVED. When will you report to the Belarussian people the details of the case you so confidentially boast has been solved?

3-   Even though 5 suspects have been arrested and supposedly confessed, your KGB continues to detain members of the opposition. If you have 5 suspects who have confessed and the crime has been solved, they why are the arrests continuing?

4-   Just days ago you said that “seeds of discord shouldn’t be sown in our souls...we should not cross this line. Those who are guilty should be made responsible. We cannot overreact, moreover, these events are luckily not systemic”. Have you not, in employing deception and force to remain in power, already sown seeds of discord among your people?

5-   Further, you say that these events are not systemic, yet you continue to detain and question your opposition after the case has according to your report, been solved with 5 suspects in custody and full confessions. If you are telling the truth, why do you continue to persecute the opposition?

6-   With an unarmed opposition enjoying widespread support of the people, why do you find it necessary to hide under the skirts of the KGB and the Belarus Security Forces?

Your citizens deserve some answers. Honest ones for a change.

[Kuna]

mendeleyev,

Thanks for your posts in here... always very informative - and really appreciated.  High quality stuff.

I enjoy going over your blog/journal too.  Excellent!

 

Kuna

[viking]

And I second Kuna's remarks !!!

I wonder...considering Lieberman's resolution, what position the US would take if there was some type of revolt/revolution in Belarus?

[GoodOlBoy]

Mendeleyev, you have posted some really great stuff here on RWD and in your journal.
I do hope that you take great personal care when pulling on the tigers tail.
Your postings could be construed by some bad characters "in country" as "questionable".
Nothing wrong with questioning/challenging authority here in the GoodOl' USA, but.......

Given the KGB's love for violence in Belarus, one can only whisper a silent prayer for those being "questioned."

Spasibo again for the pic's and info.

GOB

[mendeleyev]

Thanks to each of you!

[mendeleyev]

November 2008: First bailout of Belarus by Russia. Loan amount was $1 Billion dollars.


February 2009: Second $1 Billion dollar bailout of Belarus by Russia.


April 2011: Belarus is running out of cash, with people waiting in day-long lines to exchange rubles as they prepare for another devaluation. But since the country known as Europe's last dictatorship alienated the West, Russia now has a free hand to set its own terms in exchange for a lifeline.

As Moscow draws up the papers to give as much as $3 billion to the government of President Alexander Lukashenko, it will be eyeing Belarus' most lucrative assets, particularly its oil refineries and chemical plants.

(#3 http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Belarus-crisis-set-to-strengthen-Russia-s-hand-1321355.php#ixzz1BMp6FOBf)

[TwoBitBandit]

This is great news for the MOB industry in Belarus!

I tip my hat to the guys that are brave enough to go there.  I've been to many cities in Russia and Ukraine, but even I am a little sketchy about going to Belarus.

[Muzh]

November 2008: First bailout of Belarus by Russia. Loan amount was $1 Billion dollars.


February 2009: Second $1 Billion dollar bailout of Belarus by Russia.


April 2011: Belarus is running out of cash, with people waiting in day-long lines to exchange rubles as they prepare for another devaluation. But since the country known as Europe's last dictatorship alienated the West, Russia now has a free hand to set its own terms in exchange for a lifeline.

As Moscow draws up the papers to give as much as $3 billion to the government of President Alexander Lukashenko, it will be eyeing Belarus' most lucrative assets, particularly its oil refineries and chemical plants.

(#3 http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Belarus-crisis-set-to-strengthen-Russia-s-hand-1321355.php#ixzz1BMp6FOBf)

Mendy, couldn't you find a more reliable source than my local rag?   

The only reason I buy this paper is for the funnies and the crossword.

[Faux Pas]

Mendy, couldn't you find a more reliable source than my local rag?   

The only reason I buy this paper is for the funnies and the crossword.

C'mon Muzh, is that the only reason? 

[Muzh]

C'mon Muzh, is that the only reason? 

FP, I have never read such a provincial rag. I was shocked to see Mendy quoting it with a story on Belarus. I bet the majority of its readers must be scratching their heads trying to figure out where the hell is Belarus.