# Belarus at the crossroads URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/belarus-2020-election-protests Type: Blog Published: 2020-08-14 Updated: 2020-08-14 --- The week in corruption, 14 August 2020 ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/20200814-TWIC-Belarus-at-the-crossroads.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=4000&h=2250) Protester calls for freedom from violence in Minsk, Belarus on 13 August 2020 (Photo: [Alex\_Bar](https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Barni2004) / [Shutterstock](https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/minsk-belarusaugust-13-2020-peaceful-protests-1795394521)) Posted on: 14 August 2020 ![Transparency International logo](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/TI-logo_Medium.png?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) Transparency Int'l The winds of change are blowing in Belarus, whether current president Alexander Lukashenko wants it or not. Belarus is known as ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’, and for the past 26 years Lukashenko has treated it as his own private marching grounds. > Alexander Lukashenko was elected by the people of Belarus in 1994 on an anti-corruption platform. He has betrayed his mandate and the trust of his people on many occasions during his 26 years as president. **Oksana Drebezova** Transparency International’s national contact in Belarus [Post this](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Alexander%20Lukashenko%20was%20elected%20by%20the%20people%20of%20Belarus%20in%201994%20on%20an%20anti-corruption%20platform.%20He%20has%20betrayed%20his%20mandate%20and%20the%20trust%20of%20his%20people%20on%20many%20occasions%20during%20his%2026%20years%20as%20president.&url=https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/belarus-2020-election-protests%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dshare-button) Last Sunday, citizens of Belarus cast their ballots in the hopes that their vote would help the country move forward. In what is now being recognised as a sham election, Lukashenko claimed an improbable landslide victory over his opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Risking their lives and livelihoods, thousands have taken to the streets across the country to tell the government they will not stand another stolen election. The government has responded with unprecedented brutality, mass detentions, including of [journalists](https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/a-road-of-pain-and-blood), and even torture, violently suppressing protesters’ rights and freedoms. > 🔴 We condemn violence against peaceful protesters in [\#Belarus](https://x.com/hashtag/Belarus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). > > It’s now been confirmed that one person has died during the protests. There cannot be any more. [\#BelarusElection](https://x.com/hashtag/BelarusElection?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Transparency International (@anticorruption) [August 11, 2020](https://x.com/anticorruption/status/1293079047849861120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) In this critical moment, Transparency International is calling on the international community to come together and step up support to the people of Belarus through all diplomatic and political means available. One way to do so is through targeted sanctions against the regime’s representatives who have committed unprecedented violence against the people. ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/20200814-Belarus-crisis-calls-for-urgent-action-from-international-community.png?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) Individual sanctions in the form of asset freezes and travel bans against those perpetrating or aiding violence have the potential to hurt the authoritarian regime at the highest level and encourage them to listen to the clear demands of the people. [Belarus crisis calls for urgent action from international community](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/belarus-crisis-calls-for-urgent-action-from-international-community) We also want to express our unequivocal solidarity with the courageous people of Belarus. Viral videos show workers striking in protest, former officers throwing away their uniforms to condemn violence by security forces, and people exchanging flowers in solidarity with one another. People of Belarus have spoken. Their peaceful resistance is already changing the history of their country. This is a copy of our weekly newsletter. Would you like to stay on top of anti-corruption developments? Subscribe to our updates. - [Subscribe](https://www.transparency.org/en/newsletter-signup "Subscribe") ### You can also help put an end to corruption by supporting Transparency International. - [Donate](https://www.transparency.org/en/donate "Donate") ## Countries - [Belarus](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/belarus) ## Regions - [Europe & Central Asia](https://www.transparency.org/en/region/europe-central-asia) For any press inquiries please contact