Belarus has intensified repression against the opposition five years after the protests

• The Belarusian regime has intensified repression against the opposition following the protests of 2020.
• More than 60,000 people are currently imprisoned on political grounds.
• The initial number of activists was reduced due to the threat of arrest.

Five years ago, mass protests against election fraud began in Belarus. In September 2020, thousands of people took to the streets, protesting against the results of the presidential elections, in which Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory. The protesters were outraged not only by the fraud but also by the lack of adequate government actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The authorities responded to the protests with harsh repressions. The number of arrests, detentions, and even killings has become commonplace. Among those arrested were many activists, including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to leave the country, remaining outside the borders of Belarus.

Today, five years later, the situation in the country remains complicated. The Belarusian regime continues to persecute the opposition. According to human rights defenders, since 2020, more than 8,500 people have been imprisoned for political reasons, and in total, more than 60,000 people are currently imprisoned.

In recent months, the repressions have intensified. On the anniversary of the protests, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stated that the regime is trying to erase the memory of the events of 2020. Meanwhile, the Belarusian authorities continue to accuse the opposition of various crimes, aiming to eliminate any signs of dissent.

However, despite the repressions, some political prisoners have been released. For example, in June 2025, Syarhei Tsikhanouski, a person close to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was released from prison. Nevertheless, the number of new arrests exceeds the number of releases.

It is worth noting that over the past five years, nearly 2,000 civil society organizations, including ZMI, have been closed. The situation with human rights in the country remains critical, and many Belarusians who have left the country feel pressure and threats of return.

Tags: Europe/Politics