“Journalists are not criminals. They do their job,” citizens of Baranovichi (west of Belarus, pop. ca 180k) are chanting. The video was taken yesterday.

(Note: Such a performance is an example of one more highly popular form of “guerilla” protest in “sleeper” neighborhood of Minsk and in towns all across Belarus. People use flags, umbrellas, but mobile phone light is always part of the show.)

Tonight in Vostok (Uschod) district in Minsk. “Long Live Belarus!” People are chanting.

A morning in Serebryanka district of Minsk

“My mom is in prison.” Stories of political prisoners who are mothers of many children
(18 October 2020. Evgeniya Dolgaya)

Throughout the week, state media published congratulations in honor of Mother's Day, and state channels broadcasted stories about officials presenting awards to mothers of many children. Reform.by noted that the list of Belarusian political prisoners also includes two mothers with many children – Elena Maushuk and Tatsiana Kaneuskaya. But very little is written about them.

Elena Maushuk from Pinsk has five children, Tatsiana Kaneuskaya from Homel has four. The women ended up behind bars on charges of riots under Article 293 of the Criminal Code. Human rights activists consider the accusations unfounded and politically motivated. The children of Tatsiana and Elena told us about their mothers, what they are accused of and how they endure imprisonment.

Read the full story

The US Embassy in Minsk, before the “ultimatum” of Tsikhanouskaya is expired on Sunday, recommended that the Americans in Belarus provide a 3-day supply of food, medicine, and cash to use it in case of an emergency. Source: RIA Novosti

This short-haired girl from Mikashevichy (a town in the southwestern Belarusian Brest Region, in fact, very south of Belarus, pop. ca 14k) is called Svetlana Pilipchuk. This photo was made in Ireland in 1998 when she was 16. Seven years later she will marry Sergei Tsikhanousky and take his surname, and 15 more years later she will become a presidential candidate in Belarus and an opposition leader. Millions of people will consider her as the national leader of Belarus.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke out in support of everyone who will come out into the streets today to present the People's Ultimatum.

“Today the Belarusians will come out into the streets with the People's Ultimatum. It has three demands:
1. Stop the violence in the streets
2. Free the political prisoners
3. Lukashenka's resignation

The term of the Ultimatum expires by 23.59 tonight. Unless these demands are met, the Belarusians will start a nationwide strike.”

Source: US Embassy in Minsk. Original: joint press release by the U.S. Department of State and the European External Action Service.

The column is marching toward WWII monument in Minsk