IDM News Montag, 07 September 2020

Eyewitness report from Belarus

We are approaching the fifth week of the protests in Belarus. Despite broad disruptions of the internet connection, we were able to ask a couple of questions to Pavel Chuduk, founder of the Center for Civil Communications:

Who are the people demonstrating in Belarus? What are their main demands? What unites them? Which role does the EU play for the protest movement? Will Alexander Lukashenko be successful in securing his power?

IDMonSite - Pavel Chuduk

After the presidential election in Belarus on 9. August 2020, protests were held in all major cities in the country following the announcement of the results, in which the incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, who has been ruling since 1994, won with 80% of the votes. The candidate of the opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had to leave the country. The protests have been violently suppressed by the authorities. More than 200 people have been injured, several are reported dead and 50+ are missing. Over 7000 people have been arrested.

After our talk, Pavel witnessed the escalation of violence during the "March of Unity" on 6. September 2020, which had the motto „One for all and all for one“. In an emotional video, Pavel describes what he calls the second wave of brutal repression by the authorities.

Watch his commentary in our IDM Short Insights:

IDM Short Insights 7: Personal impressions from the Belarusian protests