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Unkown Belarus Democracy "as it must be" and "as it is" in the Republic of Belarus "Republic of Belarus - is a unitary social constitutional state. The person, Human rights and freedoms and guarantees are the main values and objective of the state and society". While reading these words from the Belarus' Constitution, we can see the modern democratic state, where the freedom of press, of the individual and of expression overrules. But, as it usually happens, in practice we have absolutely different view than in theory. So what does exactly happen in the country ? Why do experts and opposition raise the alarm, saying that rights and freedoms are violated in Belarus? To my point of view, it's late to raise an alarm. As we say, it's late to drink mineral water ("Borzhomi"), when the kidneys are broken down. At this moment any freedom of press doesn't exist in the country. All types of access to information are controlled, occupied by the government, media give us one-sided facts, we can say that Gebbels' speeches can be a pattern of objectiveness in comparison to reports of Belarus' state media. Radio, newspapers, magazines not to mention the television - are in government property or biased and controlled to such an extent, that it's no longer important whom they belong to. According to the last data, there are just few half-legal independent media, whose days are numbered. The policy of repression is conducted according the whole non-governmental sector. Non-governmental organizations (NGO's) are being closed, and it's almost impossible to register a new one, if only it's not established as a goal of the government. Some weeks ago I worked at a project, I found in Internet contacts of ten largest ecological NGO's as they were in the year 2004. I tried to contact them by e-mail or telephone. In some of them I was just answered that organizations were self-dissolute, and somewhere - I was told about provocations of the power and asked not to call. People are intimidated and afraid for their freedom. The situation is catastrophic. Internet is today almost an only independent source of information for people, let them organize and co-ordinate their actions. It seems that government structures can do nothing against the independent Internet. But as it was found out, it is possible to struggle "For Belarus" (this slogan can be seen everywhere over the country) just by attack or freeze of "nasty" web-sites, as territory of country is connected with the entire entire world just by one cable (government-owned enterprise "BelTelecom"). It's enough to remember lack of access to opposition resources in the celebration of "Day of Will" 25 th of March 2007. All the internet-traffic is controlled by the government. And that's not all. Finally the Internet is blocked by the bill of president "About the regulation of Internet-cafes work". Its' sense is that Internet-cafes visitors are identified by passports, and the web-sites they visit are registered. It's another step up the full liquidation of independent information. What remains? The universal suffrage. It's very simple . In majority of countries the voting is conducted in determined time, and if the voter can't visit the election place, the pre-term voting is used. The amount of voters is not very big. In Belarus we have opposite situation. Determined (quite big) amount of voters must vote earlier, before the elections, according to special plan of the government. This plan is distributed among different establishments: hostels, factories, military departments etc. And we see that considerable part of voters votes before the elections, while supervisors can't begin their work. And no one can disturb the government to manipulate with the votes. It's not important how the voter had voted. The counter of votes is much more important. It seems to be absolutely normal for the government. The president doesn't feel shy to say on air that results were framed. So what? You wanted to have the elections - we conducted the elections, and those who must win, have won. Do you feel better now? That's the Belarus universal suffrage as it is. We can as long as we want talk about the problems of current situation, but something can be done to change the country we love. But what do we, the patriots, want to achieve? We have what to eat and where to work? What else do we need ? We need freedom. Because European country can't develop without freedom. 15 years ago Belarus was ahead of the neighbor - Poland by all directions, but today Polish people proudly say that they live in democratic society, and Belarus people will just be silent. Hundreds of independent newspapers, television, radio etc. are one of the competitive advantages of the Polish economy, however strange can it sound. I had chance to speak to the editor of the large Polish newspaper and I was surprised by his words: "I woke up one morning and wished to open my own newspaper - in two weeks I fulfilled all the formalities, and in a month I began to publish it". It's absolutely impossible in Belarus. We can see caricatures of the present politicians in the building of Polish Seim. And we see people in jail in Belarus for the same things. So we see that the main slogan on the opposition meeting is "We are not cattle", because people are treated as beasts, treated by their brothers, Belarusian, wearing the OMON uniform. What does induce us to be "against" and to say "no" to the present regime? I can't describe it with words, cause I feel it in heart. I would like to tell a story of one man, real patriot of his country and the person he became. Call him Maxim. A year and a half ago he studied in the University, played football and was not interested in the life of his country. He was not disturbed and didn't disturb anyone. During the elections in 2006 he thought whom to vote for - because his choice will influence his future and future of his country. Maxim began to know things about the government and opposition. He was hesitating in his choice; while a day before the elections he visited the concert on Bangalor square in Minsk. The concert was conducted under the slogan "For freedom". Maxim made his choice there. And the Belarus Committee of State Security helped him in this. The staff in civil clothes with cameras and microphones chasing for flags and filming the participants of the meeting caused disgust either than fear. Is it possible in democratic society, where person is the main value? Maxim definitely decided to make everything possible for him and his children are free from despotism and tyranny. In the best way his thoughts were expressed by one of singers: "I was born in the USSR, and don't want to be there for more". Maxi voted, as he was told by his heart. Since that Maxim acts according to his civic duty, as he understood it. And any person, loving his country and freedom would do the same. We all make our choice. Some choose warmth, richness and brain cud translated by the government television. Others - and we see them more and more often - say "I'm fed up" to the totalitarian regime. It's difficult and can't be source of material goods, even if the government will be changed. Then the things which are always alive will go upwards. But we can't live in other way, because if we won't go to the square todey, tomorrow we will see sunrise colored by the OMON uniform.