March of Balloons: 21st protest Sunday in Belarus

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For over 140 days, Belarusians have been taking to the streets to protest against the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The first columns were spotted in the Belarusian capital city at the crack of dawn.

Dec 27. #Minsk today: ‘Put #Lukashenka in prison truck!’ #Belarus #BelarusProtest #BelarusSolidarity #StandWithBelarus pic.twitter.com/xcAQJOc9lI

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) December 27, 2020

Again, today’s protest is not going to be a march in downtown Minsk; the rallies are being staged in the so-called decentralised format. People gather in their neighbourhoods and then move to the places previously defined in local chats. As a result, pro-government forces have more difficulty dispersing protesters who scattered all over the city.

Belarusians keep protesting despite snow and frost: November’s sociological study by Belarusian Analytical Laboratory showed that the demonstrators were ready to continue hitting the streets.

Neighbours’ demonstrations started in the morning: small columns formed in Minsk residential areas of Malinauka, Traktor Plant, Uruchcha and other places.

Dec 27. ‘Join us!’ #Minsk‘ers gathering in offstreet yard #Belarus #BelarusProtest #BelarusSolidarity #StandWithBelarus pic.twitter.com/zrAOmzyBos

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) December 27, 2020

Dec 27. #Minsk today: Moment of two protest columns’ meeting in vicinity of Pushkinskaya metro station. Video: #Belsat video #Belarus #BelarusProtest #BelarusSolidarity #StandWithBelarus pic.twitter.com/JmcVM25Ttb

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) December 27, 2020

The residents of Lebyadziny bedroom community went out and headed to Drazdy (where one of Lukashenka’s residences is located), waving white-red -white flags and chanting ‘Long live Belarus!’

Dec 27. ‘Long live #Belarus!’: Residents of Lebyadziny bedroom community going for walk 🙂 #BelarusProtest #BelarusSolidarity #StandWithBelarus #Minsk pic.twitter.com/0QesqBiUKK

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) December 27, 2020

At about 12.30 (Minsk time), viewers started to inform Belsat TV about detentions.

Dec 27. ‘Why are you taking people away?’ #Belsat viewers report detentions in Sokal residential area #Minsk #Belarus #BelarusProtest #BelarusSolidarity #StandWithBelarus pic.twitter.com/VNUCfuWjQc

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) December 27, 2020

Dec 27. Witnesses say men in black uniform detained 2-3 persons standing at impromptu memorial to Alyaksandr #Taraykouski (1st victim amid post-election protests) near Pushkinskaya metro station. Then some ppl were reportedly taken out of cafe and driven away too #Minsk #Belarus pic.twitter.com/oqaVjhR0Hx

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) December 27, 2020

Today’s protest action is commonly called ‘the March of Balloons’; people throughout Belarus are releasing white-red-white balloons, flags and other symbols into the sky.

Dec 27. ‘March of Balloons’: Protesters across #Belarus releasing balloons into sky #BelarusProtest #BelarusSolidarity #StandWithBelarus pic.twitter.com/RpSbxOtXGc

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) December 27, 2020

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