Repression and Protest in Belarus: A Retrospective Review of State Strategies in 2020

Abstract

In this article, the origins of Belarus’ ongoing assault on civil society are examined with a focus on the protest movement that emerged after the 2020 presidential election. It analyzes the dynamics of protest repression and challenges conventional models that link protest characteristics to state violence. The findings demonstrate that, in Belarus, protest characteristics do not necessarily predict state repression. Rather, repression was driven by a centralized logic of deterrence, which was unevenly implemented by security services, who exercised broad discretion and impunity.