Two years ago, the largest protests in the country’s recent history took place in Belarus. The Air Force has fabrics ready for the 2nd anniversary following the historic 2020 presidential election.
Romanticism – growing up, fighting – waiting for opportunities, hope in oneself – hope for a miracle – this is how activists describe the environment in Belarus from 2020 to 2022.
“It was a Belarus full of hope, united by a non-unusual goal,” recalls former political prisoner Natalia Hersche on the occasion of 2020. “I was very satisfied with the Belarusians, who despite everything raised their heads and controlled saying no to the dictatorship. “
The former Swiss political prisoner still believes in adjustments in Belarus.
“Belarus in 2022 is suffering, it is confused, it would possibly lose optimism, but not faith,” Hersche says.
“In the context of the war in Ukraine, it is transparent that Belarusians had little chance of peacefully converting in 2020,” Hersche said.
“But not in vain: each and every society on the road to democracy is going through other stages of development. The events of 2020 are one of the stages of this development,” he continues.
Natalia Hersche was rescued from the Belarusian criminal thanks to the efforts of Switzerland. He spent a year and a half in jail.
“In 2020, my arrival in Minsk was a high for the soul. I would probably do the same thing now. I don’t tolerate lies and fakes, my principles haven’t changed,” natalia says.
Olympic medalist in swimming and former director of a fund created amid protests by athletes who entered the opposition, Aliaksandra Herasimenia, who brazenly spoke out against lukashenko’s regime in 2020, believes the nonviolent protests in Belarus were a mistake.
“By opting for the path of nonviolent resistance, Belarusians have already lost,” says Herasimenia, against whom a thief case has been brought in her local country. “You have to fight like a wolf with wolves, you can’t do it otherwise. We lacked a leader to lead the crowd and call for the fight for freedom.
Fearing arrest, Herasimenia left Belarus in October 2020 for Ukraine and, after the start of the Russian invasion, for Poland.
“Ukrainians know what freedom is, they appreciate it and they will never give it away,” Herasimenia continues. “Belarusians, unfortunately, have lost that feeling over the years: we made the decision. “
The brother of Belarusian activist Vitold Ashurak Andrei believes the 2020 protests were largely naïve.
“When we fight for our own rights, we don’t want to take our shoes off to get on the bench,” he says.
Andrei Ashurak knows the cruelty of the Belarusian government by the example of his own family. In May 2020, his brother Vitold Ashurak, sentenced to five years in prison for participating in protests, died in prison.
“Someone is tired, they have lost faith, but other people have not stopped thinking about change,” says Andrei Ashurak.
For many Belarusians who took to the streets in 2020, the war in Ukraine is the continuation of the struggle for their freedom and independence. Hundreds of Belarusian volunteers fight across Ukraine, from the regiment named after Kastus Kalinouski to the Pahonia detachment.
“The whole world cannot lose to a single gang of criminals,” Ashurak said. “When Ukraine wins, the time will come for adjustments for our country. Moscow backs Lukashenko. Take him out and he will have nothing left. .
“If Vitold were alive, he would have reacted to the war more than negatively,” Ashurak continues. “It’s not just a war of one country against another, it’s a war of lifestyles, and everyone understands it. “