With mass protests across the country on a scale that has never been seen before, calling for free and fair elections and the resignation of Alexander Lukashenko, the dictator who has held power in the country for 26 years, Belarus is in the process of making history.
Yesterday, Liberal International brought together Olga Karatch, founder and director of Belarusian civil rights organisation Nash Dom, and Astrid Thors, LI Vice President and Chair of the LI Human Rights Committee to discuss the situation in Belarus in a fireside chat.
“Since 9 August many people have disappeared, and many are still missing. In the last days they have started finding the people dead. One member of the election commission who refused to participate in falsifying the results was today found in the river,” Olga Karatch explained, joining the conversation from Vilnius, Lithuania where she had engaged with Lithuanian politicians about the protests.
“More and more cases of serious torture and sexual assault of men, women and even children in the prisons are being reported, but the strikes and protests still continue. Almost all factories have stopped and ordinary people have stopped paying taxes and are leaving the state-controlled trade unions. They are also taking their savings out from the national banks not to support Lukashenka.”
Astrid Thors raised that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE had released a statement on the torture and sexual violence aimed at protesters, and that the international community is starting to act. She also raised the issue of documentation, stressing the important role of the Belarusian civil society in documenting the atrocities as few international observers are present on the ground.
Olga Karatch outlined the actions she and her organisation would like to see from the international community:
“We would like a very clear political message from Europe, in three parts:
Astrid Thors, reflecting on the development of the coming days and weeks, asked: “Do you think a peaceful transition is possible, and how will these protests go on if no changes happen?”
“This is a question of life and death for the protesters now. If there is no transition of power and Lukashenka wins, they will lose their lives. The Belarusian people are fighting for liberal values. Those who already have freedom sometimes don’t understand why they should keep fighting – but we are killed for wanting freedom, free markets, showing our sexual identity and many other things,” Olga Karatch stated, explaining why she thinks the protests will continue.
Urging people to stay updated using the hashtag #Belarus2020, she ended by praising the bravery and innovation of the Belarusian people.
“I’m quite optimistic, but we are going through horror right now. We are crying, but we continue.”
