Word on the Street

Sociological research conducted by Chatham House last month indicated that most Belarusians do not want their country to participate in this war, and they believe that Belarusian involvement will have catastrophic ramifications. At the same time, Belarusians can be divided into two groups based on whom they support.
The first group gets most of its information from state television, and supports Russia. The second group receives news from the independent media, and supports Ukraine. The first backs Lukashenko, the second opposes him. About 1,000 Belarusians have already been arrested for peacefully protesting; others are sabotaging infrastructure used by the Russian military. Hundreds more are joining volunteer detachments of the Ukrainian army.
Despite their divisions over Russia itself, however, most Belarusians are united in their objection to the war into which Lukashenko has dragged them. Whether they can make their voices heard or will be silenced again remains to be seen.
Ryhor Astapenia