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[THREAD] Here are some reflections from my time in Belarus.
1) People say don’t fear the regime in the way they used to. So many people told me they'd become so tired of being afraid that they'd simply decided not to be. https://twitter.com/jeanmackenzie/status/1285845030415011841
1) People say don’t fear the regime in the way they used to. So many people told me they'd become so tired of being afraid that they'd simply decided not to be. https://twitter.com/jeanmackenzie/status/1285845030415011841
2) Young people know they could be arrested at any moment and many don’t care. They carry overnight bags around with them incase. Some see a stint in prison as proof they are fighting for change.
3) BUT the treatment of prisoners is harsher than it has been.
Old time activists like Volha have plenty experience of being put in jail and she says her recent stint was much worse. People are being put in punishment cells w/ no food and water. Here she is being “arrested”…
Old time activists like Volha have plenty experience of being put in jail and she says her recent stint was much worse. People are being put in punishment cells w/ no food and water. Here she is being “arrested”…
4) By downplaying coronavirus President Lukashenko has lost himself even hardened supporters. People feel he gambled with their lives.
I was surprised by just HOW angry everyone is about this.
For example this woman has always voted for him in the past.
I was surprised by just HOW angry everyone is about this.
For example this woman has always voted for him in the past.
5) With weeks until the election an unexpected number of people have already been jailed. Many say this is the harshest crackdown they’ve known. One thought is the government is trying to detain as many protesters as possible so there are few left to protest against the result.
6) BUT people no longer need ‘organisers’ in order to protest. Everything is organised through Telegram as collective action and the protesters say they are getting smarter. One told me “for the first time it feels like we’re the ones in control”.
7) Whether any of this will make any difference in a couple of weeks time is uncertain. People are sceptical of course. But something is changing in Belarus even if the election result does not.
