Over two weeks after a disputed presidential election in Belarus, embattled president Alexander Lukashenko has become more unpopular than ever in his 26-year reign. Mass detentions and police brutality against peaceful protesters opposing official results motivated more Belarusians to take to the streets demanding justice and a new, fair election.
For two weekends in a row, an estimated 200,000 people have flooded central Minsk for a “March of Freedom”. No threats of deploying army or mass dismissals from jobs have appeared to deter the protesters.
Among those who have joined the anti-Lukashenko movement are workers at state factories, journalists at state media, actors and musicians who performed at state-organised events, teachers, and even state officials - the very people the regime relied on.
