Belarus political repression persists years after 2020 protests

Six years after the widely disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential elections, the country remains under intense political repression following mass protests against Alexander Lukashenko. The elections, which reportedly granted Lukashenko over 80 percent of the vote, triggered nationwide demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of citizens demanding democracy and social justice.

The state response to the movement included the arrest of approximately 33,000 people, numerous injuries, reports of torture, and several deaths. In the years since, civil liberties have been significantly curtailed, independent media outlets have been liquidated, and activists have faced imprisonment. The political landscape has shifted toward total isolation, with the country described as having transformed into a state similar to North Korea.

Resistance efforts have been notable among industrial workers in major sectors, including the Minsk Tractor Works and chemical companies like Belaruskali. Despite the crackdown, the legacy of the movement continues through the activism of figures such as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the ongoing struggle of political prisoners and their families.