Episode 46: Belarus on the edge

The situation in Belarus is heating up ahead of the August 9th presidential elections. The most popular opposition candidates - who want to challenge the 26-year authoritarian rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka - have been arrested and detained. Meanwhile the society remains mobilised after the state’s poor coronavirus response and brutal crackdowns on independent journalists and bloggers. <br /><br />In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Maciek catch up Hanna Liubakova, a Belarusian journalist based in Minsk, to get her perspective on the current challenges and what the situation looks like from the ground. <br /><br />Resources <br />“Presidential election in Belarus: Who is participating in the race?” By Maxim Rust, Yahor Azarkevich. New Eastern Europe 15 July 2020. <a href="https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/15/presidential-election-in-belarus-who-is-participating-in-the-race/" rel="noopener">https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/15/presidential-election-in-belarus-who-is-participating-in-the-race/</a><br /><br />“Belarusian spring? Politicisation of the wider society” By Olga Dryndova. New Eastern Europe. 8 July 2020 <a href="https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/08/belarusian-spring-politicisation-of-the-wider-society/" rel="noopener">https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/08/belarusian-spring-politicisation-of-the-wider-society/</a><br /><br />“Why Belarusians do not love Lukashenko anymore”. By Hanna Liubakova Outriders 14 July 2020 <a href="https://outride.rs/en/why-belarusians-do-not-love-lukashenko-anymore/" rel="noopener">https://outride.rs/en/why-belarusians-do-not-love-lukashenko-anymore/</a><br /><br />Music featured in the podcast: <br />Floating Cities by Kevin MacLeod/ Link: <a href="https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3765-floating-cities" rel="noopener">https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3765-floating-cities</a><br />License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="noopener">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br /><br />SUPPORT US! Become a Patreon patron: