VIRTUALS SPACES OF FREEDOM: THE TELEGRAM-ENABLED PROTEST IN BELARUS, 2020

Abstract

In August 2020, Belarus experienced its most intense protests. Daily protest activities lasted almost a year, driven by frustrations with the COVID-19 pandemic response, rigged elections, and brutal repressions. Citizens demanded President Lukashenka’s resignation. These protests were notable for their scope and the use of Telegram channels and digital platforms. Drawing on Hannah Arendt’s theoretical insights, this article highlights that such collective movements create new informal but impactful political institutions and principles, breaking from the past. Event and network analysis revealed that prior to the August 9, 2020, elections, civic initiatives were mainly led by social entrepreneurs and were less interconnected. After August 9, a more diffused and interconnected network
of civic initiatives emerged, marked by high social relevance and innovation despite the repressive context. This increased interaction signifies a transformation in collective consciousness, potentially laying the groundwork for future democratic development.