2020–2021 Belarusian protests
The 2020 Belarusian protests, nicknamed the Slipper Revolution,[1][2] and the Anti-Cockroach Revolution[3] are a series of street protests against Belarus's president Alexander Lukashenko.[4] They began on 24 March 2020.
The protests are part of the Belarusian democracy movement. They are upset over the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, in which Lukashenko was controversially re-elected.[4] Many believed the election was rigged and unfair.[5][6]
Support from Russian President Vladimir Putin helped Alexander Lukashenko hold on, and the security forces started attacking people from the opposite side.[5][6]
There were more than 600 political prisoners as of August 2021.[7] These numbers came from the Viasna Human Rights Centre.[7] Tens of thousands of people have been arrested and thousands have left the country.[7]
2020–2021 Belarusian Protests Media
The nickname "cockroach" for Lukashenko was adopted from Korney Chukovsky's 1921 children's poem Tarakanishche (The Monster Cockroach).
Opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (left) alongside a crowd of supporters in Minsk on 30 July
Protests during election night
First press conference of the Coordination Council on 18 August 2020
Rally in memory of Alexander Taraikovsky on 15 August
Makeshift board with photographs and a drawing to represent a dead OMON officer on a gallows, holding a bloody stick.
International reactions to Lukashenko's re-election* Belarus* Congratulated Lukashenko* Recognised Tsikhanouskaya as winner* Not recognised result Expressed criticism over conflict escalation No reaction
9 November 2020 protest in Toruń against Poland's new abortion laws: protesters supporting Belarus democratic rallies
Protesters waving the European Union and white-red-white flags during a rally against Lukashenko, on 16 August 2020.
Government forces slowly cut the protesting crowd a few minutes before the suppression began. Minsk, 20 September
Armed Lukashenko troopers shooting in the air to stop the protesters. Minsk, Belarus, 1 November 2020.
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References
- ↑ Belarus: Could slippers topple a president who has been in power for 26 years?. Sky News.
- ↑ 'Slipper Revolution' Shakes BelarusVoice of America.
- ↑ Shkliarov, Vitali. Belarus Is Having an Anti-'Cockroach' Revolution. Foreign Policy (June 4, 2020).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Uladz Hrydzin. Belarusians Protest Against Lukashenka's Run For Sixth Term As President (May 25, 2020)Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Shotter, James. Violent crackdown fails to silence Belarus protesters (in en) (2020-12-02)Financial Times. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Марчук, Виктор. Белорусы не хотят рушить «берлинскую» стену (in ru). Brestskaya Gazeta 50 (939) (2020-12-11). p. 17.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Brunner, Simone. Von der Sprinterin zur Staatsfeindin (in de) (2021-08-02)Die Zeit. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
