Former Belarus Culture Minister Receives Threats After Joining Opposition Council, Home Vandalized

The former Belarusian Culture Minister, Pavel Latushko, who has sided with the opposition and joined the Coordination Council, has had red paint splashed on the walls of his home, and white-red-white flags painted on his gate, reports meduza.io.

In an interview with Tut.by, Latushko revealed that friends had sent him photographs of the vandalism, as he has not stayed at home for several days. He added that he is receiving threats from individuals referencing connections to the special services. Additionally, he has been urged to leave Belarus immediately. According to him, he received such an offer just last night at 11 PM.

“I was warned about a ‘decision’ made, namely, that I would be arrested violently, with maximum force applied,” he stated, adding that he was offered a charter flight to leave the country immediately and avoid joining the Coordination Council.

Latushko also declared that he does not intend to leave Belarus, but has sent his relatives abroad for safety.

Pavel Latushko served as Belarus’s Minister of Culture from 2009 to 2012. After the presidential elections held on August 9, he publicly supported protesters who disagreed with the election results.

Previously, the Belarusian opposition had released the preliminary list of the so-called Coordination Council for the transfer of power, which currently includes 36 individuals. Among them are Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich, opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, and members of Viktor Babariko's campaign team, along with various journalists, businesspeople, and public figures.

It should be noted that protests and strikes continue in Belarus following the presidential elections on August 9, in which incumbent Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory with 80 percent of the vote.