lots of cops and soldiers

photos of lots of police and soldiers at today's "freedom day" opposition rally in minsk. today's New York Times has an article about the "contagion" of velvet revolutions in the FSU -- here it is on Charter '97 (so no login required). interesting excerpt as regards Belarus:

Andranink M. Migranyan, a professor and political scientist at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, said challenges to power in former Soviet republics depended in large degree on the willingness of the authorities to use force.... "You must either be more adamant in using force and destroying the opposition or let others come to power," Mr. Migranyan said in a telephone interview. "The difference between [ousted premier of Kyrgyzstan] Akayev and [Belarusian President] Lukashenko is that Akayev is more democratic. And he is the loser."