The past year has unearthed different government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. These responses range from competent management of the pandemic through strict measures like lockdowns all the way to a complete lack of disease-prevention intervention. Belarus’ authoritarian regime not only failed to protect its citizens, but also entirely denied the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study, conducted through interviews of civil activists and journalists in Belarus, reveals the many ways in which Belarus’ authorities concealed information and denied care to individuals who needed it the most. The study also outlines the ways in which citizens of Belarus utilized a volunteer movement rooted in mutual aid to mobilize against a hostile government amidst a global pandemic.
The citizen mobilization around COVID-19 in Belarus had a significant effect on the presidential election and the subsequent movement to protect society and resist the coup d'etas.
NVI Ukraine has issued this report as coordinator for Eastern European Network of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC). We hope you will find the study in this PDF, helpful and edifying: