A non-violent struggle

40 Belarusians are learning how to wage a non-violent struggle against the dictatorial regime in a five-day seminar held in Vilnius called "Non-violent fight for democracy and the Belarusian democratic process." Participants represent practically all groups of the Belarusian opposition and include one of the most prominent leaders of the opposition Zyanon Paznyak, who came from the US. After completing the course, each person is expected to become an instructor who can teach methods of non-violent resistance to other opposition figures. The seminar is organised by the Foundation for the Support of Citizens' Defence and by ex-MP Audrius Butkevičius (recently released from prison after serving a sentence for taking a bribe), as well as American Gene Sharpe from the Einstein Institute. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has not commented on the activities of the seminar.