Belarusian partisan movement (2020–present)

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Belarusian partisan movement (2020–present)
Part of
Post-Soviet conflicts
Date2020 – present
Location
Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia
Caused by2020–2021 Belarusian protests,
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Goals
  • Removal of Alexander Lukashenko
  • Removal of the Russian troops stationed on the Belarusian soil
  • Removal of nuclear weapons in Belarus
  • Restoration of 1994 constitution
  • Restoration of the national symbols of Belarus
  • Derussification of Belarus
  • Freeing political prisoners
Methods
  • Sabotage
  • Amateur
    drone attacks
  • Cyberattacks
  • Public protests
  • Military training abroad
StatusOngoing
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties
Death(s)Unknown
InjuriesSeveral
ArrestedAt least 60[2]

The Belarusian partisan movement is an ongoing campaign of resistance against the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko. It began in response to the violent suppression of the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests. The partisans aim to depose Lukashenko's government and expel Russian troops from Belarus.

History

2020

Lukashenko was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election on 9 August 2020, intensifying the ongoing protests against his regime. In response the Coordination Council led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was formed on 14 August.

Several key opposition groups aligned with the Coordination Council were formed in the autumn of 2020, such as the Cyber Partisans, Busly liaciać, and BYPOL.

2021

In January, a Belarusian was arrested after an arson attack against a

CCTV, damaging infrastructure used by the regime, and actions against regime officials.[7]

2022

Partisan activity increased in the buildup to the

Babrujsk, regime security services fired on partisans who set fire railway signals;[10] and by late April there were at least 11 partisans detained.[11]

After the formation of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, and their assurances that they will liberate Belarus, representatives of BYPOL stated that they would welcome a national liberation of Belarus if circumstances allow it.[12]

2023

On the 26th of February, 2023, a Beriev A-50 aircraft of the Russian Air Force at Mačuliščy air base was damaged and two explosions were heard. BYPOL claimed that Belarusian partisans were responsible for the disabling of the aircraft.[13]

Same year an organization known as Paspalitaje Rušeńnie (People's Self-Defence) has been created in exile by a Belarusian veteran Sieržuk Kiedyška with goal of, once the occasion arises, liberating the Belarusian territory through military means. It cooperates with the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, United Transitional Cabinet as well as "Litvins' Club". There are several People's Self-Defence departments in Polish and Lithuanian cities where Belarusian exiles' diasporas exist . Recruited volunteers undergo military training there and swear on oath of loyalty to free Belarus with the traditional national emblems present.

2024

On 16 February 2024, a group of Belarusian and Ukrainian saboteurs in possession of explosives were detained after crossing into Belarus from Ukraine. In a speech responding to the incident, Lukashenko said that the country was regularly stopping attempted incursions by these kinds of armed groups, around "two or three times a week".[14]

On 28 February, BYPOL told Belgian media that that a coup against Lukashenko was being actively planned and would be executed "at the right time". The group said it was training officers in Polish military camps and that 200,000 volunteers had registered to participate in simultaneous resistance actions during the coup(such as marches, blockades, and the installment of barricades in strategic areas). Of these, 5,000 volunteers were preparing to carry out "special operations" such as sabotage.[15][16]

Exiles

It is believed that between 200,000 and 500,000 Belarusians left Belarus around and after the time of the 2020 election and are living in exile in many countries.[17]

Many are described as politically displaced persons by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which is looking at issues of them possibly becoming stateless and issues of visas and residence permits.[17]

Reactions

The Lukashenko regime has cracked down harshly on partisans. Belarusian courts, which are under regime control, have placed

death penalty
in Belarus.

In September 2023 a Belarusian law removed the possibility of renewing official documents at embassies outside of Belarus, aiming to penalise exiled Belarusian citizens by leaving them without valid ID documents, or returning to Belarus, Belarusian's in exile are at risk of statelessness.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Belarusian saboteurs who helped thwart Russia's attack on Kyiv". Washington Post. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Three Belarusian 'Railway Guerrillas' May Face Death Penalty". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  3. ^ "10 гадоў калоніі за падпал танка, які Мінабароны назвала фэйкам". 26 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  4. ^ "The hackers trying to overthrow Belarusian leader Lukashenko". The Independent. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Атаковали дронами. Белорусские партизаны сбросили на базу ОМОНа горючую смесь (видео)". ФОКУС (in Russian). 25 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  6. ^ ""Буслы ляцяць": Мы не тэрарысты. Наадварот – мы займаемся антытэрорам". belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Ад флэш-мобаў да атак з дронаў. Як беларусы змагаліся з рэжымам Лукашэнкі ў 2021 годзе". belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Белорусские партизаны устроили кибератаку на БелЖД для остановки войск РФ (фото)". ФОКУС (in Russian). 25 January 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Матолька: "Дзейнасць беларускіх партызанаў парушыла да 80 % лагістыкі расейскага войска"". belsat.eu (in Belarusian).
  10. ^ "Сілавікі пад Бабруйскам адкрылі агонь па "рэйкавых партызанах"". belsat.eu. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Праваабаронцы прызналі палітвязнямі 11 "рэйкавых партызанаў"". PolskieRadio.pl. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Як там план "Перамога"? Спыталі ў BYPOL, ці актуальны ён, – і ці будзе нацыянальна-вызваленчае войска". belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  13. ^ "В Мачулищах подорван самолёт ДРЛО А-50". Telegram. BYPOL.
  14. ^ Light, Felix (16 February 2024). Faulconbridge, Guy (ed.). "Belarus' Lukashenko says 'saboteurs' detained on border with Ukraine". Reuters.
  15. ^ NWS, VRT (2024-02-28). "Rudi Vranckx spreekt met Wit-Russen die zich voorbereiden op staatsgreep tegen president Loekasjenko: "Ons plan op het juiste moment uitvoeren"". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  16. ^ "Belarusian exiles plot coup against Lukashenko". POLITICO. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  17. ^ a b "Belarusians in exile: an overlooked issue addressed by the Parliamentary Assembly". 25 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Чарговы "тэрарыст". Крымінальнаю справу жыхара Стоўбцаў Сяргея Глебка перадалі ў суд". belsat.eu. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Belarus: Decree Puts Exiled Citizens at Risk". 8 September 2023.
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