Watch the recording of the live stream at the bottom of this article.
Hundreds of thousands in the streets, general strikes and myriads of other signs of protests in Belarus underlines the obvious: Belarusians want the end to the twenty-six-year rule of Alexander Lukashenko. Under the no doubt fearful gaze of Russia’s president Putin, events unfold at a pace no one would have anticipated. Will the demands of the Belarusian people for the resignation of the last dictator of Europe turn into the usual battle between Russia’s and Western interests, or can we see a peaceful transition of power, based on the will and interests of the Belarusian people? Will Belarus or Russia again turn to use of force to assert itself?
How can Western governments act to most efficiently assist a peaceful transition of power? How can the wounds of violence and torture against peaceful protesters heal?
In the panel:
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- Natallia Satsunkevich, Human Rights Center Viasna, Belarus
- Kirill Koroteev, Agora International Human Rights Group, Russia
- Vytis Jurkonis, Freedom House, Lithuania
- Berit Lindeman, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Norway
Moderated by Sigrun Aasland, Vice President in Tankesmien Agenda.
This event was organized online on the 26 August by The Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Tankesmien Agenda.