Wednesday 10 Feb 2021 @ 13:38
Chatham House
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Why the Belarusian Revolution Has Stalled

EXPERT COMMENT

The future still looks bleak for Lukashenka, but he is proving difficult to depose. Although most Belarusians want him gone, their revolution feels on hold.

A majority of Belarusians want Aliaksandr Lukashenka out. His regime is incapable of ensuring a decent standard of living and can no longer draw on substantial financial support from Russia, although Moscow continues to support Lukashenka politically. But, despite all this, a Belarusian revolution has stalled, and some would say failed.

Lukashenka’s regime is maintaining control through large-scale repression, with reports widespread of the government killing protesters or putting them behind bars for years, as well as lower level fines and arrests of people simply for wearing red and white trousers or flying the flag of Japan which features the same colours as the Belarusian protest movement.

Some are saying the protests will resume in earnest in the spring but the number of people at protest marches has diminished significantly in recent months, and Lukashenka probably now believes he has won.

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Original article link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/02/why-belarusian-revolution-has-stalled

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