Belarus has been rocked by street protests after protesters accused President Alexander Lukashenko of rigging the presidential election earlier this month, in which he claimed to have 80 percent of the vote.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for the past 26 years and faces the biggest challenge for his leadership, denies the allegations.
Tatyana, a 29-year-old paramedic, joined the protests after treating the injured when police tried to smash demonstrations on August 9, the night of the election.
“Despite what they say [protesters] were subjected to, [they] did not respond with violence, “she said, pointing to children mixed among the protesting crowds as a sign of hope that they will remain peaceful.” They just want justice. “
For actor Mihail Zui, the banner he marked was his resignation letter from one of the country’s main cultural venues, the Yanka Kupala Theater. After the influential and popular director decided to support the Protestants, he was fired – and Zui and most of the other artists stopped in solidarity and anger.
Thirty-year-old Nikolay wore a homemade Batman-style mask, as protection and as a statement.
The Protestants come from different generations and walks in a country that forms a buffer between Russia and Europe, and which seemed frozen for a long time in the repressive calm of the Soviet era; until now.
Among those who broke the silence was pensioner Ales Varhamiev, 62, who brought his guitar to play the anti-Lukashenko national anthem of the Protestants: Cockroach, Get Out.
Pavel Stavpinskiy, 43, was among the Protestants, flashing a victory sign. He had been an observer in the presidential election, in which most opposition candidates were imprisoned.
Among the victims of the police violence was 18-year-old college student Alexander Laubert, who is now walking around Minsk on crutches after rebellious police strangled his kneecaps.
Former police chief Alexander Ahremchyk showed off his insignia and medals, which he no longer wears after stopping service in the wake of the protests.
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