Malady Front
Encyclopedia
Young Front is a Belarusian youth movement and the largest democratic youth organisation of Belarus.
built on the foundations of democracy and free markets, and the development of a spiritually and physically strong generation.
The main objectives of the Young Front are: the realizing of social and creative initiative among young people, mass and agitation activity in order to revive Belarusian schools, culture, language and forming young peoples' responsibility for their Motherland's fate.
The Young Front is a member of political youth international organizations such as European Democrat Students
і the Youth of the European People's Party
; has partnerships with sister organizations of Ukraine, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and other countries.
Since 1997 the Young Front has been holding a permanent socio-political campaign "The city is ours!" On important dates and on the eve of important events the YF activists massively hang at roofs white-red-white national flags all over Belarus. Actions “The city is our!" were held in many cities of Belarus – more than 2000 flags were hung all in all.
As a result of active and successful activity in 1999 the Young Front has already a rating of popularity among young people – 10.8%, yielding only pro-governmental BPSM (48,3%) and BCM
(25%).
In 2000 at the parliamentary elections the Young Front held a boycott campaign under the title: "Forgery" – ridicule of electoral farce organized by Lukashenka.
The Young Front during the presidential election campaign in 2001 became the organizer of the Belarusian Youth Congress, in which more than 520 delegates from each part of Belarus took place. It also initiated the signing of special Agreement between the only candidate from the opposition and the youth. During the presidential election campaign in 2001 the Young Front became a mamber of the mobilization campaign “Choose!” During the selection rush the Young Front made more than 1100 moves in more than 120 Belarusian cities.
On 24 September 2001 the Young Front organized guard in the region of Kurapaty
, being against the reconstruction of Minsk encircling highway, as it thought that a new road could pass the burials. More than 120 activists took part in 8 months’ move “Kurapaty’s Protection”.
According to the Baltic Service of Gallup Institute over October 2002, the rating of the Young Front among the whole population of Belarus was 6,3%, among the youth (18–30 age) – 14%, what amazing is that all political parties have 0,5%–5% popularity, and “the factor of fear” in the society is very high.
The members of “The Young Front” participated and won in local council elections (2003) in several districts, took part in the elections to the House of Representatives of Belarus in 2004, but without any success. The block Young Belarus
, established by "the Young Front" was a part of the Committee of democratic political forces, and then formed a part of the United Democratic Forces
.
The activists of the Young Front collected more than 40000 signatures against the holding of the referendum in 2004 concerning the remarks to the constitution which lift restrictions for two presidencies. “The Young Front” organized a protest move at Oktyabir’skaja Square (Kalinouskaga Square) . Zmitser Dashkevich
, one of the leaders of “The Young Front” and “Young Belarus” was arrested and taken to prison for 10 days of the administrative arrest. Pavel Sevyarinets, one of the founders of “The Young Front”, the leader of “Young Belarus” was arrested for 3 years of so called “labour imprisonment” for organizing unauthorized demonstrations on the day of the referendum and the next day.
During the 2006 presidential election
campaign the Young Front was one of the organizers of the protest moves against the falsification of voting results, and also they organized “the encampment” at Oktyabir’skaja Square (20–24 March 2006).
In June 2006, the members of the Young Front, deprecating the criminal persecution of activists of the organization, went on hunger strike, which became one of the longest and mass socio-political hunger strikes. It lasted for 24 days by more than 100 people.
Some activists and leaders of the Young Front traced into the organizing committee of the establishment the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party.
In 2008 the members of the Young Front held a number nationwide campaigns. Within the scope of social campaign "Belarusian Book – To Children" the activists of the Young Front collected thousands of Belarusian-language publications which later were given to orphanages in Minsk and other Belarusian cities. Also the things and money which had been collected at the Christmas festival “Hurry To Do Good” in which lots of Belarusian outstanding musicians and socio-political figures participated were handed to orphanages and boarding schools.
From 7 to 10 December 2008 “The Young Front” carried out a campaign “Communism before a tribunal” which was finished by a daylong fast. During the campaign “The Young Front” organized dozens of anticommunist pickets and informational moves in whole Belarus, held extensive social-scientific conference “The Crimes Of Communism. Numbers and Facts”.
In 2008 during the campaign "MTS in Belarusian", firstly started by the Saligorsk blogger, fascinated people addressed a range of letters and e-mails to the headquarters of presentation of “MTS” in Belarus. In response the mobile operator created a Belarusian-language version of website. Later the activists handed the headquarters of the company more than 2500 signs for the Belarusification of the MTS. As a result, customer support service in Belarusian appeared on the receivers of telephone subscribers.
The Young Front is the leader of political street resistant movement, organizing dozens of street protests annually. The most known one among them is a traditional move St. Valentine’s Day. Since its existence the organization carried out dozens of national socio-political campaigns, the most famous of which are the following: "The Move of Love" "The City is Ours", "Belarus to Europe", "Elections", "Choose!", "No to the Third Time", "We Want the New", "Boycott 2008", "Communism Before a Tribunal", "Belarusian Book – To Children", Christmas Festival".
, the documents have been submitted for the registration to Lithuania
, planning to get official status in Poland
and the Ukraine
.
The activists of the Young Front regularly take part in unauthorized demonstrations, during which most of them are arrested by the police. The leaders of the organization and its ordinary members run the administrative persecution, the most prevailing of which are the arrest (till 25 days) and fines. Some of them were condemned: the most famous are the following – Alyaxey Shydlowski, Vadzim Labkovich, Paval Sieviaryniets
, Paval Mazhejka, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Dashkevich
.
After the presidential election campaign the criminal cases on Zmitser Dashkevich
, Syargej Lisichenak, Baris Garetski and Aleg Korban were opened by Article 193-1 (establishment and management of public association, religious association or political party, which infringe on personality, rights and duties of man and did not get official registration). According to the criminal case the leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich
was condemned for a year and a half of general regime colony (1 November 2006).
During a year other leaders and activists of the Young Front were condemned by this Article – Ivan Shyla (Saligorsk), Anastasia Palazhanka, Zmitser Hvedaruk, Alyaxey Yanushevski, Aleg Korban, Barys Garetski (Minsk), Anastasia Azarka (Nyasvizh), Yaraslaw Gryshchenya (Baranavichy), Katsyarina Salawyova (Polatsk), Edward Zelyankov (Zhlobin). They were punished with fines or warnings.
Some criminal proceedings were brought by the same article and did not come to trial. The criminal cases were brought on the following: Kiryl Atamanchyk (Zhlobin), Andrey Tyanyuta (Gomel), Arseni Yagorchanka (Svetlagorsk), Syargey Gudilin, Yaugeni Valkavets, Alyaksandr Chareyka (Zhodzina). The leader of the Young Front in Zhodzina Paval Krasouski was suspected of complicity in explosions in Vitsebsk and committing two homicides. He was taken to investigative isolation ward, and in a month Pavel Krasouski was released for complete lack of evidence.
The members of the Young Front and Belarusian community consider that their friends are condemned for reasons of policy for their opposition activity. The organization held sympathetic actions with the condemned and also with those who found themselves under the criminal persecution. In solidarity with “The Young Front” such outstanding politicians as Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Anatol’ Lyabedz’ka. After the discharge Alyaksandr Kazulin became an honorable member of the Young Front.
Due to strong campaign of solidarity with the chairman of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich
he was discharged for 1.5 months before the given time. Mentioning the willingness “to sacrifice personal freedom, health and even life in the name of his own ideals” Belarusian daily newspaper Nasha Niva named Zmitser Dashkevich “The Man Of 2007”. The activists of the “The Young Front” believe that the said before is the proof of the fact that the Belarusian regime suffered a defeat in the trials to bring to a stop the youth movement.
History
The Young Front was founded in 1997 and incorporated not formed organizationally movement of independent youth, united in its rows tens of youth initiatives and organisations. Since that time the Young Front has passed a number of degrees of its development, having evolved from protest movement of 1996–1997 years in right-centrist organisation according to its political ideology.- I YF Congress was held on 6 September 1997; Paval Seviarynets (Minsk), Siarhei Pavlenka (Grodno), Alexander Asiptsov (Mogilev) were elected to be co-Chairmen of the YF
- II YF Congress held on 10 February 1999 elected Paval Seviarynets to be Chairman of the Movement.
- III Congress on 1 July 2000 reelected Paval Seviarynets to be YF Chairman and with adopting a program «Young Front of Changes», laid Christian principles and the national idea in the ideological foundation of organization.
- IV congress on 19 June 2002 reelected Paval Seviarynets to be YF Chairman.
- V YF Congress divided in two sessions, on 23 May 2004 and 23 January 2005, elected YF co-Chairmen Bakhun Siarhei and Zmitser Dashkevich.
- VI YF Congress held on 9 March 2008 adopted an updated strategy of the Young Front: Reformation of the Young Front, according to which the movement left the United Democratic Forces of BelarusUnited Democratic Forces of BelarusThe United Democratic Forces of Belarus is a coalition of political parties participating as the main opposition group during the 2006 presidential election...
(UDF). The Congress elected Zmitser Dashkevich to be Chairman of the "Young Front".
Aims and objectives
The aims of the Young Front are: the union and education of young people on the basis of the Belarusian national idea, Christian-democratic principles, a civil societyCivil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
built on the foundations of democracy and free markets, and the development of a spiritually and physically strong generation.
The main objectives of the Young Front are: the realizing of social and creative initiative among young people, mass and agitation activity in order to revive Belarusian schools, culture, language and forming young peoples' responsibility for their Motherland's fate.
YF leaders
- Zmitser DashkevichZmitser DashkevichZmitser Dashkevich ; born July 20, 1981 in Yelsk Raion, Homiel Voblast) is a Belarusian politician and one of the leaders of the unregistered youth opposition movement Malady Front....
– Chairman - Ivan Shyla – Vice-Chairman
- Nasta Palazhanka – Vice-Chairman
- Valeryj Matskevich – Secretary International
Activity
The Young Front has about 1000–1500 activists in its ranks, incorporated in regional and district branches. The supreme body – the Congress takes place at least once every two years. The organization is headed by the Sejm and the Office of the Young Front between the Congresses.The Young Front is a member of political youth international organizations such as European Democrat Students
European Democrat Students
European Democrat Students is a pan-European centre-right student and youth political association, being the official studnet wing of the EPP, representing over 1.600.000 students and young people in 43 member organisations from 36 countries in Europe...
і the Youth of the European People's Party
Youth of the European People's Party
Youth of the European People's Party is an umbrella organization of European political youth organisations and is the official youth wing of the European People's Party. YEPP bring together over 54 Centre-Right youth political organisations from over 35 countries all over Europe...
; has partnerships with sister organizations of Ukraine, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and other countries.
Since 1997 the Young Front has been holding a permanent socio-political campaign "The city is ours!" On important dates and on the eve of important events the YF activists massively hang at roofs white-red-white national flags all over Belarus. Actions “The city is our!" were held in many cities of Belarus – more than 2000 flags were hung all in all.
As a result of active and successful activity in 1999 the Young Front has already a rating of popularity among young people – 10.8%, yielding only pro-governmental BPSM (48,3%) and BCM
BCM
BCM may refer to:*Band Corporal Major, a warrant officer appointment in the bands of the British Household Cavalry*Banque Centrale de Madagascar, a financial institution in Madagascar...
(25%).
In 2000 at the parliamentary elections the Young Front held a boycott campaign under the title: "Forgery" – ridicule of electoral farce organized by Lukashenka.
The Young Front during the presidential election campaign in 2001 became the organizer of the Belarusian Youth Congress, in which more than 520 delegates from each part of Belarus took place. It also initiated the signing of special Agreement between the only candidate from the opposition and the youth. During the presidential election campaign in 2001 the Young Front became a mamber of the mobilization campaign “Choose!” During the selection rush the Young Front made more than 1100 moves in more than 120 Belarusian cities.
On 24 September 2001 the Young Front organized guard in the region of Kurapaty
Kurapaty
Kurapaty is a wooded area on the outskirts of Minsk, Belarus, in which a vast number of people were executed between 1937 and 1941 by the Soviet secret police, the NKVD.The exact count of victims is uncertain, NKVD archives are classified in Belarus...
, being against the reconstruction of Minsk encircling highway, as it thought that a new road could pass the burials. More than 120 activists took part in 8 months’ move “Kurapaty’s Protection”.
According to the Baltic Service of Gallup Institute over October 2002, the rating of the Young Front among the whole population of Belarus was 6,3%, among the youth (18–30 age) – 14%, what amazing is that all political parties have 0,5%–5% popularity, and “the factor of fear” in the society is very high.
The members of “The Young Front” participated and won in local council elections (2003) in several districts, took part in the elections to the House of Representatives of Belarus in 2004, but without any success. The block Young Belarus
Young Belarus
Young Belarus is the youth political block, founded by "Young Front" and some leaders of democratic movement on March 14, 2004. In 2009 Young Belarus became just another youth political organisation in Belarus; later that year Young Belarus has divided on two separate wings, both claiming to be the...
, established by "the Young Front" was a part of the Committee of democratic political forces, and then formed a part of the United Democratic Forces
United Democratic Forces
The United Democratic Forces were a center-right electoral alliance in Bulgaria, led by the Union of Democratic Forces.-Members of the coalition:1997 *Union of Democratic Forces...
.
The activists of the Young Front collected more than 40000 signatures against the holding of the referendum in 2004 concerning the remarks to the constitution which lift restrictions for two presidencies. “The Young Front” organized a protest move at Oktyabir’skaja Square (Kalinouskaga Square) . Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich ; born July 20, 1981 in Yelsk Raion, Homiel Voblast) is a Belarusian politician and one of the leaders of the unregistered youth opposition movement Malady Front....
, one of the leaders of “The Young Front” and “Young Belarus” was arrested and taken to prison for 10 days of the administrative arrest. Pavel Sevyarinets, one of the founders of “The Young Front”, the leader of “Young Belarus” was arrested for 3 years of so called “labour imprisonment” for organizing unauthorized demonstrations on the day of the referendum and the next day.
During the 2006 presidential election
Belarusian presidential election, 2006
Presidential elections were held in Belarus on 19 March 2006. The result was a victory for incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, who received 84.4% of the vote. However, western observers deemed the elections rigged...
campaign the Young Front was one of the organizers of the protest moves against the falsification of voting results, and also they organized “the encampment” at Oktyabir’skaja Square (20–24 March 2006).
In June 2006, the members of the Young Front, deprecating the criminal persecution of activists of the organization, went on hunger strike, which became one of the longest and mass socio-political hunger strikes. It lasted for 24 days by more than 100 people.
Some activists and leaders of the Young Front traced into the organizing committee of the establishment the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party.
In 2008 the members of the Young Front held a number nationwide campaigns. Within the scope of social campaign "Belarusian Book – To Children" the activists of the Young Front collected thousands of Belarusian-language publications which later were given to orphanages in Minsk and other Belarusian cities. Also the things and money which had been collected at the Christmas festival “Hurry To Do Good” in which lots of Belarusian outstanding musicians and socio-political figures participated were handed to orphanages and boarding schools.
From 7 to 10 December 2008 “The Young Front” carried out a campaign “Communism before a tribunal” which was finished by a daylong fast. During the campaign “The Young Front” organized dozens of anticommunist pickets and informational moves in whole Belarus, held extensive social-scientific conference “The Crimes Of Communism. Numbers and Facts”.
In 2008 during the campaign "MTS in Belarusian", firstly started by the Saligorsk blogger, fascinated people addressed a range of letters and e-mails to the headquarters of presentation of “MTS” in Belarus. In response the mobile operator created a Belarusian-language version of website. Later the activists handed the headquarters of the company more than 2500 signs for the Belarusification of the MTS. As a result, customer support service in Belarusian appeared on the receivers of telephone subscribers.
The Young Front is the leader of political street resistant movement, organizing dozens of street protests annually. The most known one among them is a traditional move St. Valentine’s Day. Since its existence the organization carried out dozens of national socio-political campaigns, the most famous of which are the following: "The Move of Love" "The City is Ours", "Belarus to Europe", "Elections", "Choose!", "No to the Third Time", "We Want the New", "Boycott 2008", "Communism Before a Tribunal", "Belarusian Book – To Children", Christmas Festival".
Face-off to Lukashenka’s regime
Since 2005 “The Young Front” tried to get registration 5 times in the Ministry of Justice, but it was rejected 5 times. The members of the organization believe that the authorities deliberately do not register the organization in order not to have leverages of pressure on the activists by means of unconstitutional article 193-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (sharing in the organization with no carried-out registration). Within the scope of the campaign of resistance to criminal persecution for the activity in the unregistered organization the members of the Young Front registered their own organization in Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, the documents have been submitted for the registration to Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, planning to get official status in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
The activists of the Young Front regularly take part in unauthorized demonstrations, during which most of them are arrested by the police. The leaders of the organization and its ordinary members run the administrative persecution, the most prevailing of which are the arrest (till 25 days) and fines. Some of them were condemned: the most famous are the following – Alyaxey Shydlowski, Vadzim Labkovich, Paval Sieviaryniets
Paval Sieviaryniets
Pavel Sieviaryniets is a Belarusian Journalist and Christian democratic politician and youth leader and one of the founders of the Malady Front.Paval Sieviaryniets was born in Orsha, Vitsebsk Voblast into a family of local intellectuals...
, Paval Mazhejka, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich ; born July 20, 1981 in Yelsk Raion, Homiel Voblast) is a Belarusian politician and one of the leaders of the unregistered youth opposition movement Malady Front....
.
After the presidential election campaign the criminal cases on Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich ; born July 20, 1981 in Yelsk Raion, Homiel Voblast) is a Belarusian politician and one of the leaders of the unregistered youth opposition movement Malady Front....
, Syargej Lisichenak, Baris Garetski and Aleg Korban were opened by Article 193-1 (establishment and management of public association, religious association or political party, which infringe on personality, rights and duties of man and did not get official registration). According to the criminal case the leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich ; born July 20, 1981 in Yelsk Raion, Homiel Voblast) is a Belarusian politician and one of the leaders of the unregistered youth opposition movement Malady Front....
was condemned for a year and a half of general regime colony (1 November 2006).
During a year other leaders and activists of the Young Front were condemned by this Article – Ivan Shyla (Saligorsk), Anastasia Palazhanka, Zmitser Hvedaruk, Alyaxey Yanushevski, Aleg Korban, Barys Garetski (Minsk), Anastasia Azarka (Nyasvizh), Yaraslaw Gryshchenya (Baranavichy), Katsyarina Salawyova (Polatsk), Edward Zelyankov (Zhlobin). They were punished with fines or warnings.
Some criminal proceedings were brought by the same article and did not come to trial. The criminal cases were brought on the following: Kiryl Atamanchyk (Zhlobin), Andrey Tyanyuta (Gomel), Arseni Yagorchanka (Svetlagorsk), Syargey Gudilin, Yaugeni Valkavets, Alyaksandr Chareyka (Zhodzina). The leader of the Young Front in Zhodzina Paval Krasouski was suspected of complicity in explosions in Vitsebsk and committing two homicides. He was taken to investigative isolation ward, and in a month Pavel Krasouski was released for complete lack of evidence.
The members of the Young Front and Belarusian community consider that their friends are condemned for reasons of policy for their opposition activity. The organization held sympathetic actions with the condemned and also with those who found themselves under the criminal persecution. In solidarity with “The Young Front” such outstanding politicians as Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Anatol’ Lyabedz’ka. After the discharge Alyaksandr Kazulin became an honorable member of the Young Front.
Due to strong campaign of solidarity with the chairman of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich
Zmitser Dashkevich ; born July 20, 1981 in Yelsk Raion, Homiel Voblast) is a Belarusian politician and one of the leaders of the unregistered youth opposition movement Malady Front....
he was discharged for 1.5 months before the given time. Mentioning the willingness “to sacrifice personal freedom, health and even life in the name of his own ideals” Belarusian daily newspaper Nasha Niva named Zmitser Dashkevich “The Man Of 2007”. The activists of the “The Young Front” believe that the said before is the proof of the fact that the Belarusian regime suffered a defeat in the trials to bring to a stop the youth movement.