Originating from Central Europe myself, I have always considered Belarus to be one of those undeveloped post-soviet countries, still stuck in the reformatory limbo. Imagine my disbelief when I realized they’re years ahead of Poland, and European values are treasured and cultivated in cities like Minsk. My university professor organized a weekend trip to the Belarusian capital and the first thing that struck me was: how do they have so many Fanta flavours?! It was puzzling, how far they were ahead those days while till today Belarus is still a dictatorship. There’s the Independence Square in Minsk with government buildings and a statue of Lenin, tourists are forbidden to take photos there. “Independence Square” my ass. Communist symbolism is everywhere, statues, obelisks, sickle and...
