A-Infos (en) Germany, Karlsruhe, ANIKA: Five years after the uprisings in Belarus - Solidarity with the politically persecuted! (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

On the fifth anniversary of the uprisings in Belarus, we hung banners at 
various locations in Karlsruhe to draw attention to the issue, the 
political prisoners, the suspension of humanitarian admission programs, 
and to show our solidarity with the Belarusian opposition and the 
detainees. ---- The uprisings began on August 9, 2020, following a 
rigged presidential election in Belarus. In the following weeks, 
hundreds of thousands protested against the "Last Dictator in Europe," 
Lukashenko. The ruler responded to the protests with extreme severity, 
including the use of firearms and the deployment of the military. Tens 
of thousands were arrested, tortured, and abused. Hundreds of thousands 
have fled the country, and six people have died in the brutal crackdown.

The role of women in the protests is considered particularly important. 
In the initial period, they were less affected by police violence and 
were able to offer protection to other protesters. As the protests 
progressed and their political influence grew, their situation changed. 
In addition to the usual forms of repression, they faced sexual violence 
and the removal of their children.

Another key pillar of Lukashenko's power system is the suppression of 
free reporting. Countless journalists were arrested during the protests. 
A free press is virtually nonexistent. NGOs, trade unions, and 
opposition groups are banned or legally restricted, and minorities are 
severely affected by discrimination and repression.

Five years after the uprisings, Lukashenko is still in power. The 
opposition in Belarus has become relatively quiet. It is organized 
primarily in the diaspora. More than a thousand opposition members are 
still in prison and in labor camps, affected by and threatened with 
torture and mistreatment.

The "West," which Lukashenko blamed for the uprisings, responded with a 
wide range of sanctions, which were further expanded with Belarus's 
participation in the attack on Ukraine.

By releasing several opposition figures in recent weeks, Lukashenko 
apparently hopes for a relaxation of sanctions and a "normalization" of 
foreign policy relations.

The German government, led by Interior Minister Dobrindt, has suspended 
all humanitarian admission programs. This decision affects all those 
politically persecuted in their countries of origin, including 
opposition figures from Belarus.

Even though the opposition in Belarus has recently become rather quiet, 
organized primarily in the diaspora, and Lukashenko's power appears more 
consolidated than ever, we must not forget all those still in prisons 
and labor camps. Humanitarian admission programs for those politically 
persecuted must be resumed immediately, and political and economic 
pressure on "Europe's last dictator" must be maintained and increased.

For the resumption of humanitarian admission programs!
Solidarity with the prisoners and the opposition in Belarus and the 
diaspora!
Against the dictatorship - for a life in freedom!

https://anika.noblogs.org/2025/08/11/fuenf-jahre-nach-den-aufstaenden-in-belarus-solidaritaet-mit-den-politisch-verfolgten/
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