Authoritarian Belarus, which has been ruled by the same man since 1994, is the site of unprecedented protests and political rallies sweeping not just the capital, Minsk, but the countryside as well following a presidential vote on August 9, 2020, that is widely regarded as bogus. Strongman Alexander Lukashenko is now caught between two fires: public pressure for his ouster and genuine reform on the one hand, and an aggressive Moscow, which has been trying to reabsorb the country ever since it broke away, on the other. And for the first time in Belarus' history, a woman, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, has managed to unite the once-fractious opposition and gather thousands at rallies in cities and towns across the country. So, is the “last dictatorship in Europe" finally ready for reform, or is the stage simply being set for a Russian takeover? Special Correspondent Simon Ostrovsky reports from Belarus for PBS NewsHour Weekend.
Russia Propagates Pro-Regime Propaganda as Crackdown Continues in Belarus
Despite arrests and intimidation, anti-Lukashenko rallies continue. In response to the unrest, Belarus ordered a sweeping media crackdown, and many journalists were stripped of credentials.
Despite Lukashenko’s Threats, Belarus Protesters Stay on the Streets
Protests in Belarus continue two weeks after an election denounced as fraudulent by the U.S., the EU, and the opposition. Now, leaders of that opposition movement have been summoned for questioning.
I Felt Rage, Grabbed the Microphone and Spoke To the Strikers, Says Accidental ‘Lech Walesa’ of Belarus
Sergei Dylevsky represents angry workers who have had enough of Belarus' government.
Protests Continue in Belarus as Embattled Lukashenko Clings To Power
Post-election protests in Belarus continue into their second week as workers are divided over whether to strike and exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya calls for a new vote.
Chicago Public Schools: Students Reflect On Visit With Pulitzer Center Journalists
Catherine Irving, teacher at Northside College Preparatory High School, shares her experience of having Pulitzer Center grantees, Simon Ostrovsky and Marcia Biggs, virtually visit her classroom.