Authorities have detained hundreds of people fighting for democracy in Belarus. Get the facts about the ongoing crisis + how you can support Belarusian-led organizations today.
Despite widespread claims of voter fraud and election miscounts, Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory on Aug. 9, 2020. Shortly after, thousands of Belarusians congregated in city centers to protest what they considered a stolen election. In the capital, Minsk, there were crowds of at least 100,000 Belarusian protestors. The evening started peacefully, with students wearing the white-red-white Belarusian national flag and chanting calls of resistance. Police eventually moved in using flash grenades, rubber bullets, and batons against the protestors. Over the next four days, authorities arrested nearly 7,000 people. Many protesters reported experiencing extreme levels of abuse while in custody.
Source: Human Rights Watch + The Associated Press + United Nations OHCHR
Authorities brought hundreds of criminal cases against activists, protestors, and journalists. Many journalists were detained, fined, and deported for their coverage of the protests and stripped of their journalistic accreditation. The government temporarily blocked dozens of websites and severely restricted access to the internet.
Source: Human Rights Watch
One year after the contested election, a new wave of arrests swept through Belarus. Independent journalists, activists, and those deemed disloyal to the government were among more than 20 people detained in two days across six Belarusian cities. Reported arrests have been for seemingly minor actions—like wearing socks with red and white stripes. The colors symbolize the since-banned Belarusian nationalist flag and are often used in protests against Alexander Lukashenko.
Source: The Human Rights Center Viasna + The BBC
Women-led umbrella protests have become a staple of the Belarusian resistance against the current regime. The red-and-white striped Belarusian nationalist flag was used during the 20th century and has since become a symbol of opposition to Lukashenko’s presidency.
Source: ABC News
Belarusian-led organizations have been struggling to fundraise because doing so puts them at risk of being shut down by authorities. That’s why giving through a trusted intermediary (like GlobalGiving) is often the best option to preserve everyone’s safety. We are working closely with several locally led organizations in Belarus, all of which have asked to remain anonymous.
Our partners in Belarus range from organizations raising money to support fine compensation, medical expenses, and legal assistance for nonprofits providing scholarships and grants to journalists.
Your donation to GlobalGiving’s Supporting Human Rights and Free Press for Belarus Fund will help these vetted nonprofits. You can rest assured knowing that GlobalGiving has been awarded the highest possible rating by Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and GuideStar.
Featured Photo: Belarusian flag is seen during the March of Solidarity with Belarus as part of the Global Solidarity Picket. Krakow, Poland on May 29, 2021 by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Associated PressFind exactly what you're looking for in our Learn Library by searching for specific words or phrases related to the content you need.
