Civil Services Strategist
Civil Services Preparation, Current Affairs, General Studies
  • Home
    • Latest Posts
  • National
  • International
    • International Current Affairs
    • India and The World
    • Country Profiles
  • Business and Economy
  • Quick Scan
    • Prizes and Awards
    • Books and Authors
    • Sports
    • Persons in News
  • General Studies
    • History (English)
    • Geography (English)
    • Polity and International Relations (English)
    • Economy (English)
    • Science and Technology
    • Ethics
  • Strategist
    • Readings for Mains
    • Readings for Prelims
Belarus Crisis and Protests
September 24 2020

Belarus Crisis and Protests: Slipper Revolution and the Anti-Cockroach Revolution

Dr Piyush ChaubeyInternational Current Affairs

Tens of thousands of Belarusians calling for the authoritarian President to resign marched through the capital on September 20 as the country’s wave of protests entered its seventh week. Hundreds of soldiers blocked off the center of Minsk, deploying water cannons and armored personnel carriers and erecting barbed wire barriers. Protests also took place in several other cities, including Brest and Grodno. The country is facing mass protests since the elections were announced. People of the country allege the government of being undemocratic and dictatorial. Protests began on August 9 after the 2020 election in which the official results say gave President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office; opponents and some poll workers say the results were manipulated.

The marchers also carried portraits of Maria Kolsenikova, a top opposition figure who has been jailed for two weeks and is facing charges of undermining state security that could bring a five-year prison term. Kolesnikova has said security forces drove her to the border with Ukraine to try to make her leave the country, but that she tore up her passport so she couldn’t cross the border. In a statement relayed by her lawyer she urged protesters to continue- “Freedom is worth fighting for. Do not be afraid to be free,”    “I do not regret anything and would do the same again.”

Beginning of the protests

Belarus saw huge mass protests during the 2020 presidential election. The former President T Lukashenko sought a sixth term in office by participating in this election while a large number of Belarus people felt  he had betrayed them during his past tenure. In fact the 2020 pre and post election protests were just an extension of ongoing political demonstrations and protests for quite some time against the Belarusian government while the government was still supported by a few people who were pro-Lukashenko. When the former president was announced to have won the 2020 election, an opposition candidate Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya claimed that the official election had been falsified as despite her getting 60–70% of the votes, election results announced victory of the former. She announced the creation of a Coordination Council, with membership applications open to all Belarusians who agreed that Lukashenko and his men falsified the actual election result.

The 2020 protests are the largest series of anti-government demonstrations in Belarus since Alexander Lukashenko became President of the country in 1994. Lukashenko had faced greater public opposition amid his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which Lukashenko has denied as a serious threat. Lukashenko allegedly suppressed his opposition by misusing power. He also allegedly had his own way in elections by denying transparency.   Of the five elections won by Lukashenko, only the first in 1994 was credibly deemed free and fair by international monitors.

  • Main causes of the Belarus protests
  • Political repression and authoritarianism.
  • Arrest of opposition presidential candidates Viktar Babaryka and Sergei Tikhanovsky.
  • Persistent electoral fraud in the country’s elections.
  • Alexander Lukashenko seeking a sixth presidential term in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.

Slipper Revolution and the Anti-Cockroach Revolution

The protests against Lukanshenko government, nicknamed the Slipper Revolution and the Anti-Cockroach Revolution, were initiated by businessman and blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky when he made a reference to the children’s poem The Monster Cockroach  by Korney Chukovsky, in which a dictatorial yet fragile insect had a chaotic reign of terror over all the other animals even during his brief rule. Later Tikhanovsky was detained in late May 2020 by Belarusian authorities, and was formally accused of being a foreign agent. On 19 June, Lukashenko announced that he had “foiled a coup attempt”, resulting in the arrest of main opposition rival Viktar Babaryka on allegeldly motivated charges of bribery and corruption.  Several opposition candidates were registered for the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, but many of them were arrested. As soon as Babaryka was detained by authorities, people started walking in the streets to demonstrate their disagreement. Opposition activists, protesters, journalists, and bloggers have also been arrested as part of the crackdown. However, Lukashenko claimed that the opposition protests were a part of a plot orchestrated by foreigners, who he suggested might be Americans, NATO members, Russians, or even Ukrainians.

Tikhanovsky’s wife Svetlana Tikhanovskaya registered as a candidate in the election after the arrest of Babaryka.  Lukashenko insisted the country was not ready for a woman to become president. Unregistered candidate Valeriy Tsepkalo’s wife Veronika Tsepkalo announced that she and Maria Kolesnikova, head of Babaryka’s presidential campaign staff, would join Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s campaign and provide support.

Brutal Suppression

The protests were widespread, but brutally repressed by the Belarus authorities than previous protests in Belarus. About 1,300 people were reportedly detained for protesting between early May and early August. A statement by the United Nations Human Rights Office  cited (September 01) more than 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of detainees, as well as reports of sexual abuse and rape.

Conclusion

The protest is more about democracy, freedom and empowerment of the people. It is against authoritarianism. The protests are about the violation of democratic and human rights and and not about economic deprivation. The economy of Belarus is the world’s 72nd-largest economy by GDP, which stands at $195 billion on PPP basis and per capita income at $20,900. Notably the per capita income of Belarus is about half that of neighboring Russia while the cost of living in the country is lower than Russia. As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well-developed industrial base; it retained this industrial base following the break-up of the USSR, as well as a broad agricultural base and a high education-level. Among the former republics of the Soviet Union, it has retained the most soviet-style economy, with many enterprises, utilities and services remaining state-owned, and tight controls on land ownership and banking.

There is no sign of the protests relenting soon and Lukashenko regime is facing incessant criticism from world leaders for his inhuman and dictatorial handling of the protests. It is uncertain what is going to happen next.

Dr Piyush Chaubey
+ posts
  • Dr Piyush Chaubey
    https://civilservicesstrategist.com/author/piyushchaubey/
    US Congress reintroduces a Bill targeting H1-B visas
  • Dr Piyush Chaubey
    https://civilservicesstrategist.com/author/piyushchaubey/
    Donald Trump bans nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States
  • Dr Piyush Chaubey
    https://civilservicesstrategist.com/author/piyushchaubey/
    Trump, media and future of democracy
  • Dr Piyush Chaubey
    https://civilservicesstrategist.com/author/piyushchaubey/
    US slaps new sanctions on Iran over missile test
How August 2020 Monetary Policy of India Addresses the Challenges of Recession and Covid shock A brief note on Art and Architecture of Ancient and Early Medieval Era in India

Related Posts

Nogorno Karabakh

International Current Affairs

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh Military Conflict

Courtesy Global Conflict Tracker, dated October 09, 2020 The risk of military conflict is escalating in Nagorno-Karabakh, the border region claimed by both Armenia and Azerbaijan, due to the failure of mediation efforts, increased militarization, and frequent cease-fire violations. In late September 2020, heavy fighting broke out along the border—the most serious escalation since 2016. More than […]

Yoshihide Suga: Japan's New Prime Minister

International Current Affairs

Yoshihide Suga: Japan’s New Prime Minister

While Japan, the third largest economy is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic and facing its biggest economic slump on record and has postponed Tokyo Olympics Japan’s new Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga takes over the Charge. On 28 August 2020, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe announced his intention to resign due to his deteriorating health. On 14 September, Yoshihide Suga was elected as the […]

Understanding Afghan Peace Process

International Current Affairs

Understanding Afghan Problem and the Peace Process

Ouster of Nazibullah Government Afghanistan has been a problem state for last many decades. The period beginning 28 April 1992, the day that a new interim Afghan government was supposed to replace the Republic of Afghanistan of President Mohammad Najibullah could be traced as the beginning of the present problem. After Nazibullah government was ousted, an interim government could not be […]

Recent Posts

  • When will the search for a vaccine against Corona Virus may bring a reliable antidote?
  • Nobel Peace Prize 2020
  • Armenia and Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh Military Conflict
  • Know about the Atal Tunnel
  • Budget At A Glance: Quick understanding of Concepts and Facts

Recent Comments

  • बिपिन कुमार सिन्हा on भारतीय दर्शन में मोक्ष की अवधारणा
  • Hairstyles Men on The rise of  right wing populism: Meaning, reasons and implications
  • Geneva Bennett on The rise of  right wing populism: Meaning, reasons and implications
  • Sergio Blake on The rise of  right wing populism: Meaning, reasons and implications
  • Rose Morales on The rise of  right wing populism: Meaning, reasons and implications

Archives

  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • September 2016
  • March 2016
  • June 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014

Categories

  • Books and Authors
  • Business and Economy
  • CSP
  • Economic Development and Policies
  • Economy (English)
  • Essay
  • Ethics
  • Featured
  • General Studies
  • Geography (English)
  • Goodreads
  • History (English)
  • India and The World
  • International Current Affairs
  • International Trade and Economy
  • Latest Posts
  • National Affairs
  • Persons in News
  • Polity and International Relations (English)
  • Prizes and Awards
  • Quick Scan
  • Readings for Mains
  • Readings for Prelims
  • Review Articles
  • Science and Technology
  • Special Reports
  • Sports
  • Strategist
  • Student’s Column
  • Tech
  • Uncategorized
  • आधुनिक भारत
  • पाषाण काल
  • प्राचीन भारत
  • भारतीय इतिहास
  • भारतीय चित्रकला
  • भारतीय दर्शन
  • भारतीय नृत्य
  • भारतीय संगीत
  • भारतीय स्थापत्य
  • हड़प्पा सभ्यता
Civil Services Strategist
© Civil Services Strategist 2021
Designed & Developed by Sahaj Takneek sahaj-takneek