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pushaper t1_ja8t6n3 wrote

what are "partisans"? Is this a Belarus separatist group? Is it what we would consider mercenaries if they were shooting at Ukraine planes?

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Namika t1_ja90yba wrote

Partisans are historically defined as locals under occupation that sabotage the occupying force.

Think of like, the French Resistance fighting back against the Nazi's in occupied France in WW2. Or even the Taliban fighting the Americans in Afghanistan, those would technically be partisans because they are locals fighting a foreign army occupying their land.

Anyway, you are correct that this Belarus group probably shouldn't be called partisans. Belarus is not at war.

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pushaper t1_ja918b5 wrote

thank you for some clarification. Would the FLQ be an example?

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Namika t1_ja9283m wrote

That's more like a revolutionary group. They are trying to overthrow their own government.

Partisans tend to be more about citizens fighting back against a foreign army that is on their soil.

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MrFacepalm_ t1_jaa2tp1 wrote

Technically, they are fighting a foreign army. Whatever the position of Belarus "officials" might be, those are still Russian military force residing on a Belarusian soil and using it as a launching pad for attacks on Ukraine.

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_dirt_vonnegut t1_ja9ov6y wrote

"partisan" is the word you use when you don't want to say "anarchist"

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