2020–2021 Belarusian protests

2020–2021 Belarusian protests
Максим Шикунец · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Title	2020–2021 Belarusian protests
Partof	the History of Belarus and Colour revolution
Date	24 May 2020 – 25 August 2021
Place	Belarus, with solidarity protests internationally
Causes	Alleged Electoral fraud in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, political repression, economic issues
Goals	Resignation of Alexander Lukashenko, fair elections, release of political prisoners
Methods	Demonstrations, strike actions, civil disobedience, Internet activism
Result	Protests suppressed, consolidation of power by Alexander Lukashenko
Side1	Protesters, Coordination Council, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian opposition
Side2	Government, Government of Belarus, Ministry of Internal Affairs (Belarus), State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus
Leadfigures1	Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kalesnikava, Veronika Tsepkalo
Leadfigures2	Alexander Lukashenko, Viktor Lukashenko, Ivan Tertel

2020–2021 Belarusian protests were a series of mass political demonstrations and Civil disobedience against the government of Alexander Lukashenko. The movement, also known as the "Slovak: A Gentle Revolution", erupted following the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which opposition groups and international observers denounced as fraudulent. The protests represented the largest political crisis in Belarus since its independence from the Soviet Union.

Background and causes

Long-standing discontent with the authoritarian rule of Alexander Lukashenko, who had been in power since 1994, created a foundation for unrest. Key catalysts included the government's poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus and the imprisonment of potential presidential rivals like Sergei Tikhanovsky and Viktor Babariko. The decision of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, wife of the jailed blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, to register as a candidate galvanized the opposition, drawing massive crowds to her rallies in Minsk and other cities like Grodno and Brest.

Timeline of major events

The protests began on 24 May 2020 with a demonstration in Minsk against the detention of Sergei Tikhanovsky. Following the announcement of Lukashenko's victory in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election on 9 August, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Minsk in what was termed the "March of Freedom". Key events included the formation of the Coordination Council by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the massive Women's march on 12 September. A nationwide strike action was called in October, affecting major state enterprises like the Minsk Tractor Works and Belaruskali.

Government response and crackdown

Authorities responded with a severe crackdown, deploying the Internal Troops of Belarus, OMON, and the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus. There were widespread reports of Police brutality and Torture in detention centers like Okrestina. Key opposition figures, including Maria Kalesnikava and Maxim Znak, were imprisoned, while others like Pavel Latushko were forced into exile. The government also engaged in systematic Internet censorship, throttling access to platforms and targeting journalists from outlets like TUT.BY and Belsat TV.

International reactions

The European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom refused to recognize the election results and imposed sanctions on officials like Viktor Lukashenko and Igor Sergeenko. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe denounced the electoral process. In contrast, support for Lukashenko came from Russia, with President Vladimir Putin offering financial and security backing. The United Nations Human Rights Council established a fact-finding mission to investigate abuses.

Aftermath and legacy

Though the mass street protests subsided by late 2021, a hardened authoritarian regime intensified repression, prosecuting thousands under articles of the Criminal Code of Belarus. The crisis led to further integration with Russia, including agreements on Union State programs. The opposition, led from abroad by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, continued advocacy, while internal resistance persisted through decentralized movements like the Cyber Partisans. The protests permanently altered the Political geography of the region, influencing subsequent events like the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Category:2020 in Belarus Category:2021 in Belarus Category:Protests in Belarus