Da Belarusian thread

[Tonitrus]

It's looking like Putin is working hard to smoothly control any political transition. 

https://www.ft.com/content/53c4f8ec-c2da-48db-9459-6dc717e79b9c

[Liep]

I'm worried for Belarus. Lukashenko seems to have completely lost it.

He and his son are in Minsk wearing full combat gear with rifles leading the security forces.

[Habbaku]

Finally a Tsar leading his people to battle again!

[Josquius]

It's looking like Putin is working hard to smoothly control any political transition. 

https://www.ft.com/content/53c4f8ec-c2da-48db-9459-6dc717e79b9c

Pay wall. The exec summary?

[garbon]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/07/belarus-opposition-leader-maria-kolesnikova-snatched-from-street-in-minsk-reports

Belarus opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova 'snatched from street' in Minsk

Unidentified masked men snatched the leading Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova from the street in the centre of the capital, Minsk, on Monday and drove her away in a minivan, witnesses told local media.

Kolesnikova was one of the campaign partners of the opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claimed victory against the long-ruling president, Alexander Lukashenko, in disputed elections on 9 August.

Kolesnikova was reportedly seized soon after 10am local time while walking close to Minsk's national art museum. Three other members of the opposition coordination council have also vanished, in what appears to be a targeted attempt by the authorities to wipe out the protest movement.

Kolesnikova is the most prominent political figure still inside Belarus.

Lukashenko's victory – in a poll widely seen as rigged – has sparked mass protests. On Sunday, more than 100,000 people marched on the president's residence, calling on him to quit. Riot police wearing balaclavas arrested 633 people. Gangs of pro-government thugs beat up protesters on their way home.

It is unclear who abducted Koselnikova. Her coordination council colleagues who have disappeared include Anton Rodnenkov, Ivan Kravtsov and Maxim Bogretsov. Her press team is also missing.

Speaking to the local news website Tut.by, a woman identified as Anastasia said she spotted Kolesnikova in the street. She said she was about to go up to her and to thank her for her work when she changed her mind, thinking Kolesnikova looked exhausted.

...

[Josquius]

A horrible crime clearly perpetuated by the rioters and in no way linked to glorious president.

[Razgovory]

The article is referring to them in the past tense...

[garbon]

And it isn't slowing down.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/09/belarus-opposition-figure-maxim-znak-taken-from-office-by-masked-men

Belarus opposition figure Maxim Znak taken from office by masked men

Belarusian authorities have detained one of the last leading members of an opposition council who had remained free, moving methodically to end a month of protests against President Alexander Lukashenko.

Maxim Znak, a lawyer and member of the coordination council created by the opposition to facilitate talks with the country's leader on a transition of power, was taken out of the council's office by unidentified people in ski masks, his associate Gleb German said. He said Znak only had time to text message "masks" before they took the phone away from him.

Unidentified people were also trying to enter the apartment of the last member of the council's executive presidium who remained free, Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel prize in literature.

...

[Razgovory]

Is "Znak" a common name in Belarus?  I thought it was just the Russian word for "sign".

[DGuller]

Not every Slavic last name fits a pattern, there are always some odd ones mixed in.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

I'm worried for Belarus. Lukashenko seems to have completely lost it.

He and his son are in Minsk wearing full combat gear with rifles leading the security forces.

there was an interview with one of his soviet era handlers a while ago and the guy basically said he was bonkers, and always has been bonkers

[Tonitrus]

Not every Slavic last name fits a pattern, there are always some odd ones mixed in.

I've noticed a fair number of "Tooth-less" and "Arm-(or hand)less". 

[grumbler]

Not every Slavic last name fits a pattern, there are always some odd ones mixed in.

I've noticed a fair number of "Tooth-less" and "Arm-(or hand)less". 

The Slavic name "Eileen" means "missing one leg."

[The Brain]

Then what do you come on?

[Duque de Bragança]

Time to use the carrot for Lukashenko?