1 00:00:02,359 --> 00:00:06,800 Since August 9th, Belarusians have been taking part in peaceful mass protests 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,040 against the fascist regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenko. 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,360 The Belarusian people consider him an illegitimate president, 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:16,480 and his victory in the presidential elections in 2020 was widely seen as fraudulent. 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,160 Since then, the authorities have carried out flagrant atrocities against the protesters. 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:21,720 Over the past four months, 7 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,386 more than 30 thousand Belarusians have gone through administrative arrests, 8 00:00:25,486 --> 00:00:28,303 and about a thousand became targets of criminal prosecutions 9 00:00:28,403 --> 00:00:32,342 (from a national population of about 9.5 million people). 10 00:00:32,442 --> 00:00:36,624 More than 150 people have been recognized as political prisoners. 11 00:00:36,724 --> 00:00:40,074 Most of them have been subjected to violence and torture. 12 00:00:41,523 --> 00:00:45,425 Protests during presidential campaigns have occurred in Belarus before, 13 00:00:45,525 --> 00:00:49,147 but only in 2020 did they become so persistent and numerous, 14 00:00:49,247 --> 00:00:52,278 largely due to the fact that they are based on the anarchic principles 15 00:00:52,378 --> 00:00:55,591 of mutual assistance, self-organization and decentralization. 16 00:00:55,877 --> 00:00:59,552 For the first time in Belarus, city block initiatives have appeared: 17 00:00:59,652 --> 00:01:02,304 residents of different districts gather in the evenings 18 00:01:02,404 --> 00:01:04,945 to discuss tactics for the next day's protest, 19 00:01:05,045 --> 00:01:06,545 or to just listen to music. 20 00:01:06,645 --> 00:01:08,635 Thanks to these city block communities, 21 00:01:08,735 --> 00:01:10,866 protests have become more united. 22 00:01:12,259 --> 00:01:13,265 From the very beginning, 23 00:01:13,365 --> 00:01:15,617 Belarusian anarchists actively participated 24 00:01:15,717 --> 00:01:17,920 in the struggle against dictatorship and violence: 25 00:01:18,020 --> 00:01:21,425 they engaged in agitation and facilitated communication among the protesters, 26 00:01:21,525 --> 00:01:23,945 built barricades and formed columns. 27 00:01:24,045 --> 00:01:26,581 Because of this activity, many comrades have faced repression, 28 00:01:26,681 --> 00:01:28,781 which has intensified and been fueled 29 00:01:28,781 --> 00:01:31,341 by the general collapse of the justice system in Belarus. 30 00:01:31,441 --> 00:01:35,464 Anarchist political prisoners Ivan Krasoŭski and Mikola Dziadok 31 00:01:35,564 --> 00:01:37,349 were violently tortured. 32 00:01:37,449 --> 00:01:38,355 Meanwhile, 33 00:01:38,455 --> 00:01:43,221 Ihar Alinievič, Dzmitry Duboŭski, Dzmitry Razanovič and Siarhiej Ramanaŭ, 34 00:01:43,321 --> 00:01:47,182 who carried out several direct actions without claiming a single victim, 35 00:01:47,282 --> 00:01:49,582 have all been accused of terrorism. 36 00:01:51,552 --> 00:01:53,142 How can you help? 37 00:01:53,242 --> 00:01:55,880 Anarchists are old enemies of the state. 38 00:01:55,980 --> 00:01:59,461 And today, as the authorities in Belarus encourages retribution 39 00:01:59,561 --> 00:02:02,544 and violence against the revolution’s active participants, 40 00:02:02,644 --> 00:02:05,032 anarchists are in greater danger than ever before. 41 00:02:05,132 --> 00:02:06,314 Here's how you can help them. 42 00:02:06,414 --> 00:02:07,502 Spread the word: 43 00:02:07,602 --> 00:02:10,556 share this video and articles about the situation in Belarus. 44 00:02:10,656 --> 00:02:13,356 Donate money to fundraising initiatives. 45 00:02:13,356 --> 00:02:16,784 Send a postcard or letter to the detained comrades.