Belarus Riots: The People's Uprising Against Lukashenko's Regime

Belarus has been labelled the last dictatorship in Europe. In August 2020, mass protests broke out across the country following a disputed presidential election. Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since the early 1990s, was declared the landslide winner. However, the election was marred by widespread fraud, with many believing that Lukashenko had rigged the vote to hold onto his position. The protests were met with a brutal crackdown by security forces, with thousands of people detained and subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. The violent repression of the protests sparked international outrage and led to sanctions being imposed on Lukashenko and his associates by Western countries. Despite the risks, Belarusians have continued to take to the streets, demanding an end to the regime's abuses and calling for free and fair elections.

Widespread electoral fraud

The opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, is thought by many to have won the election, but the electoral commission in Belarus declared Lukashenko the winner. The day after the election, Tsikhanouskaya went to the electoral commission to demand an official recount. She then fled to Lithuania, releasing a video declaring, "What is happening now is not worth any life."

The European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials involved in the post-election crackdown, as they did not recognise the election outcome, calling it "unfree and unfair". An investigation facilitated by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) found "massive and systemic" human rights violations before and after the election. The report called for new elections to be held, and for the release of political prisoners.

The Belarusian authorities responded to the protests with extreme violence and repression. Security forces used excessive force, rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and blank ammunition to disperse protests. Thousands of protesters were detained and subjected to inhumane and degrading conditions, with hundreds being tortured. At least three protesters died as a result of police actions in August 2020, and by mid-November, the number of detained protesters had risen to over 25,000.

The crackdown targeted not only protesters but also journalists, political opposition figures, presidential candidates, civic activists, and human rights defenders. The Belarusian Association of Journalists documented 336 detentions and 60 incidents of violence against journalists in the months following the election. The authorities also blocked websites and restricted internet access.

The protests in Belarus were fuelled by indignation and frustration at the fraudulent election and the violent response by the authorities. Despite the repression, peaceful protesters continued to participate in daily protests and marches, demanding an end to the beatings and torture, criminal prosecution of perpetrators, and new elections. The movement was diverse, with students, workers from state-owned enterprises, and senior citizens taking part.

Brutal police repression

Following the disputed 2020 presidential election in Belarus, which saw Alexander Lukashenko declared the winner by a landslide, the country was rocked by mass protests. The demonstrations were met with brutal police repression, with security forces employing violent tactics and making thousands of arrests.

The protests, which began in August 2020, were sparked by accusations of election rigging by the opposition and the general public, who took to the streets to demand free and fair elections. The response from the Belarusian authorities was swift and harsh. Security forces, including the KGB, used excessive force to disperse the demonstrations, resulting in injuries and deaths.

During the initial days of the protests, security forces violently broke up demonstrations in Minsk and other large cities. They used rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and blank ammunition to break up the crowds. In just four days, riot police detained almost 7,000 protesters and bystanders, holding them in inhumane and degrading conditions. At least three protesters lost their lives as a direct result of police actions during this period.

The detained protesters were subjected to brutal treatment, including beatings, prolonged stress positions, electric shocks, and even rape. They were packed into overcrowded cells, often denied food, water, medical assistance, and access to toilets. Despite these harsh conditions, the protests continued, with tens of thousands of people demonstrating peacefully for fair elections and justice for abuses.

The crackdown on the protests extended beyond the streets. The authorities targeted journalists attempting to cover the story, with more than 500 journalists arrested since the election. Websites were blocked, and internet access was severely restricted during the protests. The Belarusian Association of Journalists documented 336 detentions and 60 incidents of violence against journalists in the months following the election.

The repression also took the form of threatening parents with fines and custody loss if their children participated in the protests. Students were threatened with expulsion, and there were warnings that live ammunition might be used against protesters. The crackdown on the protests resulted in a wave of sanctions from the European Union, the UK, Canada, and the United States.

The brutal police repression in Belarus during the 2020 protests had a significant impact on the country, leading to international condemnation and sanctions. The violent response by the security forces failed to deter the protesters, who continued to demonstrate peacefully despite the risks. The repression also sparked international outrage and scrutiny, with human rights organisations and foreign governments calling for an end to the abuses.

International sanctions

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed a variety of restrictive measures on Belarus, including individual and economic sanctions, restrictions on trade, a SWIFT ban for five Belarusian banks, and a prohibition on transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus. These sanctions aim to pressure the Belarusian leadership to prevent further violence and repression, release political prisoners, and initiate a genuine national dialogue. The EU has also imposed an arms embargo, a ban on the export of goods for internal repression, and travel bans and asset freezes for specific individuals.

US Sanctions

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued sanctions and visa restrictions on Belarus, targeting the Lukashenka regime, military support to Russia, and human rights abuses. The US has also targeted Belarusian revenue generators, state-owned enterprises, government officials, and Lukashenka's aircraft.

Other Countries' Sanctions

In addition to the EU and US, the UK and Canada have also imposed sanctions on Belarus in response to the state repression of peaceful protests. These sanctions were announced following reports of torture, violence, detentions, and internet shutdowns by the Belarusian authorities.

Violence as a risky strategy

The violent repression of protests in Belarus has proven to be a risky strategy for the regime. The state's response to the protests with extreme violence and brutality has only served to bring more people out onto the streets. The images and videos of the injuries inflicted on thousands of protesters and the reports and evidence of torture have sparked outrage both within Belarus and internationally. This has resulted in a wave of strikes and mass mobilisation, with tens and hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters demanding an end to the beatings and torture, the criminal prosecution of perpetrators, and new elections. The violent crackdown has also led to the closure of independent media outlets and the targeting of journalists, further limiting the freedom of expression and access to information in the country.

The regime's use of force has not succeeded in quelling the protests and has instead fuelled them, indicating that violence is a risky strategy that can backfire and lead to further criticism and opposition. The Belarusian authorities' attempts to suppress the protests and control the narrative have been largely ineffective, with protesters adjusting their strategies to focus on smaller local marches and neighbourhood actions that are harder for the police to disperse. Additionally, the violent repression has led to increased international pressure and sanctions against Belarus, further isolating the country on the world stage.

The crackdown on protests in Belarus has resulted in a high degree of politicisation in society, with half of the respondents in a survey knowing someone who had taken part in the protests and 20% personally experiencing or knowing someone who experienced violence during the protests. This suggests that the regime's use of violence has not deterred people from participating in the protests but instead created a sense of solidarity and outrage that has fuelled the movement. The mass protests and continued repression have also led to a significant outward migration trend, particularly among the young and educated, further impacting the country's social and economic fabric.

The violent response to the protests has also had consequences for Belarus's international relations. Western countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, have imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials and condemned the violence, detentions, and internet shutdowns. Additionally, Belarus has been stripped of hosting rights for international sporting events, and its airlines have been banned from operating in several countries. The regime's actions have damaged its reputation and isolated it further from the international community.

In conclusion, the use of violence as a strategy to suppress protests in Belarus has been counterproductive and risky. It has fuelled the protest movement, alienated the population from the state, and led to increased international condemnation and isolation. The regime's attempts to maintain control through brute force have ultimately failed to deter the protesters and have only served to strengthen their resolve and garner more support for their cause.

Russian involvement

The 2020 Belarusian protests were a series of mass demonstrations against the government and President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko has been the head of state of Belarus since 1994 and has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator" by media outlets. The protests, nicknamed the Slipper Revolution and the Anti-Cockroach Revolution, were initiated by businessman and blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, who compared Lukashenko to a cockroach in a children's poem.

In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, Lukashenko faced greater public opposition due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he denied as a serious threat. On 29 July 2020, 33 alleged mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, were arrested in a sanatorium near Minsk. Lukashenko accused Russia of lying about the arrested "mercenaries", stating that there was an "attempt to organize a massacre in the center of Minsk". However, all but one of the mercenaries, who was a Belarusian national, were deported to Russia.

Lukashenko claimed that the opposition protests were orchestrated by foreigners and, on 19 June, he announced that he had "foiled a coup attempt", resulting in the arrest of main opposition rival Viktar Babaryka. Babaryka stated that the charges of bribery and corruption were falsified and that the arrest was politically motivated to stop him from winning the election. Tikhanovsky's wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, registered as a candidate in the election after Babaryka's arrest.

On 9 August 2020, the official election results were announced, with Lukashenko declared the winner. Tsikhanouskaya, the main opponent of Lukashenko, rejected the results as falsified and claimed to have received 60-70% of the votes. Protests erupted across the country, with supporters of Tsikhanouskaya taking to the streets in all major cities. The situation escalated into violence between protesters and authorities, with law enforcement officers using batons, rubber bullets, grenades, water cannons, tear gas, and stun grenades to suppress the protests.

Russia's involvement in the Belarusian protests and its relationship with Lukashenko is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, Russia has been accused of supporting Lukashenko and providing military assistance. Lukashenko has drawn closer to Russia in recent years, and the two countries are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a Russia-led military alliance. Lukashenko has also allowed Russian troops to perform military drills on Belarusian territory and has provided Russia with access to its military airbases and installations. Additionally, there have been reports of Belarusian troops fighting alongside Russians in Ukraine, although Lukashenko has denied these claims.

On the other hand, Russia has also been implicated in attempts to destabilize Lukashenko's regime. In April 2021, the Russian FSB issued a statement claiming that it had prevented an attempted coup d'état in Belarus, allegedly planned with the support of the United States. However, this allegation was dismissed by the US Department of State and political pundits.

It is important to note that the relationship between Russia and Belarus is not static and has evolved over time. While Russia may have supported Lukashenko during the initial protests, its position may have shifted as the situation in Belarus has changed.

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