Authorities intensify repression to prevent ‘revolutionary’ moods from spreading across Belarus

BATE Borisov football fans who had held a rally in support of the Ukrainian Maidan were detained and sentenced to five days in jail for unauthorised picketing.

Events in Ukraine have prompted discussions in Belarusian society about possible ways to democratise Belarus and have strengthened positions of the ‘revolutionary’ scenario supporters. Regardless of the shrinking ‘social’ benefits for the population, the vast majority of Belarusians is not ready to repeat the Maidan scenario in Belarus. Nevertheless, the authorities intensify preventive measures to reduce civil activity.