2011 Belarusian protests

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2011 Belarusian protests
Part of the Belarusian democracy movement
RevInBel1.jpg
Security forces pushing back protesters in Minsk, 15 June 2011
Date8 June (2025-06-08) – 12 October 2011 (2011-10-13)
(4 months and 4 days)
Location
Caused by
Goals
Methods Political lobbying, public rallies, demonstrations, riots, industrial action.
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties and losses
18 injuries, including 2 police officers

The 2011 Belarusian protests were a series of peaceful protests by demonstrators in Belarus demanding the resignation of current Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, who had been the president of Belarus since 1994. [1] [2] Belarus is an authoritarian state, and in May 2011 presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov was sentenced to five years in prison for taking part in the 2010 presidential election. Lukashenko claimed he won with almost 80% of the vote. [3]

Contents

Background

Much of the protesting fervor stemmed from a rapidly degrading economy that Belarus had been facing in the months before the protests. [4]

Protests

8 June

29 June

Hundreds of people gathered in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, to protest against the rule of Alexander Lukashenko. Unlike previous demonstrations, the protesters this time just simply applauded. It was not long before people were forced onto police buses, and about 40 were detained.

3 July

On Belarusian independence day, about 3000 demonstrators took part in a "clapping protest" in the main square of Minsk, in which protesters clapped instead of chanting slogans. Plain clothed police later came, and arrested many protesters, including a one-armed man for clapping, and a deaf mute accused of shouting anti-government slogans. [5] Lukashenko and the state police were awarded the 2013 Ig Nobel Peace Prize for these actions. [6]

Following the protest on 3 July 2011, activists widened their tactical approach of civil disobedience by distributing videos of police brutality to random citizens, in order to help garner sympathy and bolster the global critiques of the authoritarian government. [7]

13 July

Plain-clothed officers detaining a protester in Minsk, 15 July BelRevJuly13f.jpg
Plain-clothed officers detaining a protester in Minsk, 15 July

Hundreds of people showed up in Minsk with cellphones set to go off at 8 am, in gesture to tell people to "wake up". Several dozen people were arrested by the police. [8]

Reaction

The government began blocking social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. [9] [10]

On 29 July, the government banned assemblies and gatherings, making them illegal. [11]

See also

References

  1. "Belarus: Lukashenko vows to quell 'revolution plot'". BBC News. 3 July 2011.
  2. Tovrov, Daniel (4 July 2011). "Hundreds Arrested in Belarus' Silent Protest".
  3. Marson, James (14 May 2011). "Belarus Presidential Runner-Up Sentenced to Prison". The Wall Street Journal.
  4. "Lukashenko nears crunch time, says Belarus opposition". Reuters. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012.
  5. Weir, Fred (8 July 2011). "In Belarus, one-armed man arrested for clapping". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  6. "Winner if the Ig Nobel Prize". Annals of Improbable Research . Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  7. Motlagh, Jason (12 July 2011). "Protesters broaden tactics as Belarus cracks down" via Christian Science Monitor.
  8. "100 detained in Belarus protests – NEWS FROM BELARUS". Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  9. Mary. "Belarus blocks Twitter and Facebook in bid to prevent protests".
  10. Balmforth, Richard (3 July 2011). "UPDATE 2-Belarus police arrest protesters at anti-Lukashenko rallies". Reuters.
  11. "Belarus Passes Law Against Silent Protests". Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.