KGB vs Youtubers. How technology and self-organization became the driving force of Belarus peaceful revolution

One western journalist described Belarus as the “Communism with a taste of a Cappuccino”. It’s in Belarus, where you can see McDonald’s and KGB headquarters nearby. For 15 months in a row, Belarus remains on the headlines of the world media thanks to a peaceful uprising against the soviet-style dictator who has ruled the country for 27 years and is often compared to Stalin in terms of his methods. The regime failed to tackle the COVID crisis, offer a feasible vision of the future, and showed a total inability to work with media and the Internet.

On the contrary, Belarus society demonstrated extraordinary bravery and creativity in fighting for democratic values. Young people have built a territory of freedom in social networks - Telegram, Youtube, Instagram. Many grassroots organizations appeared. New socio-demographic groups, such as workers or seniors, joined the pro-democracy movement. Workers organized first in online communities and tried to launch a national strike. 

The uprising of 2020 came as a surprise not only to the regime and to Belarusians, it also came as a surprise to both Russia and international organizations, which have failed to develop a clear and effective strategy for overcoming the crisis. Meanwhile, we see an escalation of repressions, more victims, and the growing role of KGB and secret services enjoying full impunity. 

Despite massive repressions, Belarusians continue to protest, mostly in cyberspace. Independent media quickly adopt new technologies and move to social networks, bloggers counter the regime's narratives on YouTube, cyber-partisans hack secret services and regime’s institutions. In the absence of legal space for activity, Belarusians experiment with new spaces and forms of resistance, strengthen infrastructure, and enhance safety for activists. The Revolution hasn't won yet but has not lost either.

Webinar Registration - Zoom