"Rumours circulated that Milinkevich was controlled by his wife." The Square-2006 through the eyes of Ina Kuley
On March 19, 2006, the third presidential elections were held in Belarus, the results of which were not a surprise. The surprise of spring-2006 was The Square and the tent camp. Svaboda spoke about those events with Ina Kuley, the wife of the sole opposition candidate.
"Territory of Freedom"
On March 19, 2006, the third presidential elections took place in Belarus, in which 4 candidates participated: three Alexanders — Kazulin, Lukashenka, Milinkevich — and Siarhei Haidukevich. In the evening, a large rally organized by supporters of Milinkevich and Kazulin took place on Kastrychnitskaya Square. On Monday, people outraged by the figures announced by the Central Election Commission gathered again on The Square. Lukashenka allegedly garnered 82% of the votes, Milinkevich — 6%, Haidukevich — 3.5%, Kazulin — slightly more than 2%.
At the rally, Aliaksandr Milinkevich declared that he would not leave The Square all night. He urged those present to ask their relatives to bring tea and food.
It was The Square, not the presidential elections, that dominated the screens of world television channels, the front pages of leading European and American newspapers, on radio and the internet.
The protest tent camp on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk after the 2006 presidential elections became a symbol of those elections
"Territory of Freedom", "Battle for Belarus", "Square of Democracy", "Thousands Protest" — dozens of similar headlines, reports, interviews, and photos from Minsk testified to a different choice.
The first tent appeared on The Square on Monday, March 20, at 19:30, and on Friday, March 24, at 3:30 AM, paddy wagons, into which the defenders of The Square were thrown, headed for the prison. Four nights and three days of freedom. More than 500 detained.
On March 25, the celebration of Freedom Day took place in Yanka Kupala Park, after which Aliaksandr Kazulin led some of the participants towards the prison on Akrestsina lane. Then people were severely beaten and dispersed with stun grenades. Aliaksandr Kazulin was sentenced to 5 and a half years of imprisonment.
Ina Kuley, Aliaksandr Milinkevich's wife, who was with her husband at all rallies and on The Square, told Svaboda how events unfolded on election day and throughout the following week.
"Faith was stronger than fear"
— Ms. Ina, on election day, March 19, Aliaksandr Milinkevich, who had actively conducted the election campaign, traveled across regions, met with people, and suddenly disappeared. Journalists raised the alarm: "What happened? Was he detained?" Even your sons didn't know where you and Aliaksandr Milinkevich had disappeared to. Tell us about this mysterious disappearance.
— Just before the elections, arrests of Aliaksandr Milinkevich's campaign headquarters leaders began across Belarus; activists in the regions were preemptively detained — so that people could not come to Minsk or protest in their own city. A decision was made — the leader had to be protected. Since he had called on people to come to The Square both on television and at meetings in the regions — it was very important that he appeared on this Square.
And then Siarhei Kaliakin, who was the head of the headquarters, developed a special operation. On Saturday, March 18, we went to a meeting with voters. Some cars constantly accompanied us, following us. The meeting was scheduled at the 'Palyavnichi' bar on Independence Avenue. The driver took us to the main entrance, we went through the kitchen into the courtyard. There, an old 'Zhiguli' (Lada) car was waiting for us; we quickly got in, covered ourselves with a blanket, and drove to a specially rented safe house on the outskirts of Minsk, where Aliaksei Janukevich was with us. And we didn't appear anywhere on March 19. Aliaksei received information via a 'burner' phone about how people were gathering on Kastrychnitskaya Square in the evening.
Belarusian presidential candidate Aliaksandr Milinkevich with his wife Ina Kuley during voting at a polling station in Minsk, 2006.
We were a bit late to The Square — we miscalculated the time, and besides, roads were blocked, exits were closed. But when we saw how many people were on Kastrychnitskaya Square, we were stunned — despite intimidation and threats, people came! I remember people living near the circus and the House of Veterans telling us that they kept their entrances open so that people could hide if there was a dispersal. Such touching stories!
We stood slightly elevated, on the steps of the Palace of Trade Unions — and saw a sea of people stretching to the 'Tsentralny' department store. Even police estimates indicated that there were more than 30,000 people on The Square.
Snowstorm and Flowers to the Eternal Flame
— Suddenly a hurricane, a snowstorm, swept in — in your opinion, what was that?
— Yes, a heavy snowfall started instantly; the blizzard was so powerful that people couldn't see each other. It was short and ended as abruptly as it began. Later it was said that perhaps it was done with special snow cannons — they shot snow. Such a sudden and powerful blizzard, a snowfall, is simply unimaginable. It was extraordinary and so brief! Perhaps they hoped that people would disperse, but that didn't happen!
Aliaksandr Milinkevich with Ina Kuley on the steps of the Palace of Culture of Trade Unions. Evening of March 19, 2006.
People were inspired by events in Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine; they hoped that changes could happen in Belarus too.
Faith was stronger than fear, people's eyes glowed, the feeling that there were many of us, that we were all like-minded — gave strength…
— Whose idea was it to go to Victory Square and lay flowers at the Eternal Flame? Were there no proposals to stay on The Square on the very first evening?
— Aliaksandr Kazulin proposed going to Victory Square and laying flowers. Aliaksandr Milinkevich's headquarters stated that there were no election results yet. And there was hesitation: to stay immediately on Kastrychnitskaya Square or return later. Perhaps we shouldn't have left The Square on the first day; maybe we made a mistake then. But history cannot be turned back.
Until the next day, everything was calm. In the morning, we arrived at the headquarters. There, information was collected from the regions, observers sent final materials — they prepared information to convey it to the people.
Aliaksandr Milinkevich and Ina Kuley on the day of registration as presidential candidates. February 17, 2006.
Of course, no one believed the official figures — that only 6% voted for Milinkevich. I traveled with him across the regions, was at all meetings with people — everywhere people supported us. The figure was ridiculous — it was obvious! The figure simply insulted people — their voice meant nothing, the authorities could write whatever they wanted.
It is very important that people came on the second day too. There were probably no fewer of them than on election day.
— Whose idea was it, and how did it arise, to organize a tent camp on Kastrychnitskaya Square?
— In the headquarters, proposals were voiced to organize a tent camp. Not everyone agreed, there were disputes. And primarily not because it wasn't worth it, it was wrong, it was an unnecessary protest, but because people's safety had to be ensured. Secondly — it was the city center, it was clear that the authorities would not allow this protest to exist for a long time. Milinkevich's headquarters also prepared tents, but those headquarters' tents, unfortunately, could not be delivered to The Square — people with them were detained in Yanka Kupala Park.
First Tents
— Ms. Ina, you and your husband were constantly with the youth on The Square, spent two nights with the protesters, and often spoke at rallies. What are your most vivid impressions?
— I will never forget the first night… When Milinkevich said that we would stay on The Square, it was very touching. Viktor Ivashkevich was with us all night; his legs hurt, and he walked with a cane. At six in the morning, 'Mahutny Bozha' (Almighty God) sounded over The Square; Viktor was the one who played it. The sun was rising, and everyone who was on The Square picked up the song and sang along. It was such a feeling of spiritual victory, the triumph of truth! And people simply spread their wings!
The protest tent camp on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk after the 2006 presidential elections
I simply bow my head to the camp commandant Ales Mazur and Viachaslau Siuchyk for the organization. Such exemplary order, everything was well-tuned. When people came from different countries, they said that we had extraordinary youth, intelligent, polite, well-behaved, with shining eyes.
There were security groups: strong young men stood in a chain day and night, holding hands, shielding the tents. Girls cooked food. Countless people, risking their freedom, brought food, literally wrapping themselves in sausages, warm clothes, blankets. There was a medical tent because it was cold, and people caught colds. The atmosphere on The Square was wonderful. Aliaksandr Milinkevich spoke several times a day. People chanted 'Milinkevich'.
— And what made Aliaksandr Milinkevich gain such popularity, even love, among the youth?
— Aliaksandr is a physics lecturer by his first education; he taught classes at Belarusian universities, worked in Algeria — giving lectures in French. Despite speaking publicly a lot, he has such a character that he always worries, has an inner sense of responsibility. Milinkevich's speeches on The Square were not formal-protocol; they came from the heart, from the soul. I remember how we walked around the tents, getting to know people — who they were, where they were from. He felt a great responsibility for the fact that essentially children were freezing, couldn't eat properly, or go to the restroom. As a father, as a man, he felt an internal responsibility, spoke with everyone. The speeches were warm, with great respect for this youth.
— Did Mr. Aliaksandr conduct negotiations with representatives of the authorities, the police leadership, then? Perhaps they contacted him — so that people would disperse?
— No. Aliaksandr himself approached the high-ranking officials who usually stood on the porch of the Palace of the Republic; there were several attempts to speak with them. He argued that it was a peaceful demonstration, that we had no weapons, no one intended to break anything, and that people had the right to express themselves, their voices should be heard, and he asked for permission to bring something…
Kazulin and Milinkevich together raise their hands in a gesture of unity during a meeting with voters on the eve of the presidential elections in Minsk, March 17, 2006.
He negotiated with ambassadors so that they would arrange for people to pass, to prevent arrests. Diplomats came to The Square, spoke before the youth. Their friendship with them then lasted many years.
The British Ambassador Informed Milinkevich About the Dispersal of The Square
— Tell us about the dispersal of the tent camp. Were you on The Square that night?
— It was one of the nights when we didn't stay. We rented a two-room apartment near the airport; our press secretary and assistants stayed with us. We came there to spend both nights and days — to sleep a couple of hours after a night on The Square. We arrived there around midnight after a live broadcast on Radio Svaboda — we had spoken with journalist Valer Kalinouski. We intended to get some sleep and return to the square at 5 AM. At two in the morning, the then-British Ambassador to Belarus, Brian Bennett, called us. He was the first to inform us that the tent camp was being dispersed. Our son Ihar was also on The Square that night. We quickly arrived there but found tractors and bulldozers already clearing the area. It was very bitter to realize what had happened…
— And yet, for almost five days, protesters and a tent camp stood on the central square of the capital. Why did the authorities allow this?
— Firstly, the international community very closely monitored the elections. Milinkevich was a legitimately elected candidate, having won at the Congress of Democratic Forces. Before the elections, Solana called Aliaksandr directly on his mobile phone, even though they were not closely acquainted (Javier Solana was then the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and earlier the Secretary-General of NATO. — RS). He asked how Aliaksandr was doing, what his mood was, and invited him after the elections. This was protection.
Mass protest action by opposition supporters in the center of Minsk on March 25, 2006 (Freedom Day).
And the second line of defense was journalists. They protected the tent camp, us, and the headquarters. They were present on The Square day and night: taking interviews, shooting videos. And this restrained the Lukashenka supporters from openly beating people, from openly showing their aggression. Lukashenka still wanted to appear legitimate then. Moreover, the authorities felt quite confident, the economy was strong, there was support from Moscow — both moral and material.
Solidarity Committee and Kalinouski Program
— What did you and Aliaksandr do after the dispersal of The Square? How did you find the strength to hold the Freedom Day celebration?
— On Friday, after the camp's dispersal, there was confusion. Where were the people taken, what happened to them? Most of those detained were young people; their parents searched for them, visiting various police departments (RAUS).
My son was in the Zhodzina pre-trial detention center (SIZO); we went there, spoke with other parents. And we decided that we needed to focus on helping the victims: preparing care packages, organizing buses to meet people, attending court hearings. That's when the Solidarity Committee was formed, which I headed for 17 years.
And then the Kalinouski program appeared. As soon as we learned that many students had been detained on The Square and faced expulsion, Milinkevich appealed at the rally to Poland, to Poles: "Who, if not you, can help us? You went through 'Solidarity'; your youth were forced to leave the country to study. Help us." And, as the director of the Kalinouski program, Jan Malicki, recounted, upon hearing this appeal, he literally the next day turned to the Prime Minister of Poland, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, and thus the Kalinouski program for Belarusian students was founded.
— And how did you find the strength to organize and hold the rally dedicated to Freedom Day in Yanka Kupala Park?
— Despite the dispersal of the tent camp, the mood was uplifted. Saturday the 25th was exceptionally sunny and warm compared to the previous frosty days. Milinkevich and Kazulin had previously called for people to come to the rally, as it is the main Belarusian holiday — Independence Day. And although everyone knew about the brutal dispersal of The Square, people went to the rally in Yanka Kupala Park with children, with balloons — as if to a celebration.
On one hand, they demonstrated: "you won't scare us," and on the other hand — "there are many of us!" There was no confusion, there was inspiration.
"Peaceful people against bars and security forces — that's madness"
— Who called on people to go to Akrestsina? And why didn't Aliaksandr Milinkevich go?
— All activists on our side were categorically against people going to Akrestsina. Aliaksandr Milinkevich said it wasn't worth going. I also spoke with representatives of Kazulin's headquarters, tried to dissuade them…
Then it seemed, as they say, that it was a manifestation of strength, of honor. They said, Aliaksandr Milinkevich is weak-spirited, he was scared, but Aliaksandr Kazulin, a former marine, he is so brave, he led the people!
Mass protest action by opposition supporters in the center of Minsk on March 25, 2006.
My husband is a very courageous man, stubborn, resilient, and he has proven this with his life. He did not break, did not betray. And he remains even now a man of very strong spirit (this is evident even now, in his struggle with illness).
But here it's not about courage, but about responsibility. It was clear that a provocation was being prepared. And it was obvious that confronting the security forces, knowing how brutally The Square was dispersed, how people were detained and abused at Akrestsina — this is irresponsible, it means exposing peaceful people to beatings. To me, this does not look like courage. It looks like irresponsibility, imprudence, provocation.
Who is ready to go out into the streets in Belarus today? Suicidal people. A person's life, their health — that's the most important thing a politician should think about. People should not have been led to Akrestsina. Peaceful people against bars and security forces — that's madness.
I believe that Mr. Kazulin acted imprudently then, both towards himself and towards the people. People suffered; it severely affected people's sense of security and future opportunities for several years.
"Belarusians Proved in 2006 That We Are a Worthy People"
— Where did Mr. Aliaksandr find the strength — to live in such a tense regime? And you — to constantly be by his side: at all meetings with voters, at rallies, on The Square?
— Rumours circulated that Milinkevich was controlled by his wife. Perhaps they were deliberately fanned. But Aliaksandr has a very strong inner core. He is a strong-spirited man, attentive, consistent, honest. And his upbringing, intelligence, polite character, empathetic attitude towards people do not make him weak. I am proud of him.
His top priority is responsibility for the people, for the youth on The Square, for the future of the country. This is what gave him strength.
— 20 years have passed since then. How do you assess those events now? Was it worth going out to The Square?
— Everyone who went through The Square in 2006 is a "Kalinouski's person". This is an honorable title for life. We are participants in the newest Belarusian history. This instills both honor and the realization that we must continue this spirit of freedom. I see among those who went through The Square then that they have not changed; these are strong-spirited people, they retain a star, a spark that they ignited within themselves in 2006.
Relatives of detained protesters queue near the detention center on Akrestsina lane in Minsk, March 2006.
And to new democrats, I would like to remind that the new history of Belarus did not begin in 2020, just as Belarus did not begin with the Great Patriotic War, as Lukashenka's supporters like to say. One must remember and rely on the path taken by democratic forces in the spring of 1996, in 2001, 2006, 2010. One must draw conclusions, work on mistakes, and move forward. Belarusians also proved in 2006 that we are a worthy people. This should especially be realized by people of the new generation who think that nothing existed before them.
Comments