Belarus recently held parliamentary and local elections amidst widespread international condemnation, with critics labeling the process as a sham and a farce. The elections have been criticized for not meeting democratic standards, resembling more a military operation against its own citizens. The Belarusian opposition, led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, orchestrated a significant digital protest by hacking 2000 screens across the country on February 24, 2024, to broadcast a message urging support for Ukraine and resistance against the elections. This act of digital dissent was swiftly countered by the authorities, who took down the broadcasts within two hours. The US State Department, along with other international voices including the UK and Norway, condemned the elections, citing the impossibility of holding free and fair elections in a climate of fear and with over 1400 political prisoners. The elections were also marked by heightened security measures at polling stations and restrictions on voting transparency, such as the prohibition of taking pictures at polling stations. The 69-year-old dictator's crackdown on civil society is being bankrolled by Vladimir Putin.
The sham elections in #Belarus yesterday represent a further deterioration of democratic principles and fundamental freedoms, in violation of @OSCE commitments. We condemn the systemic repressions in Belarus and support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people. https://t.co/LWIykddFc1
The recent flawed parliamentary elections in Belarus were yet another example of the regime’s disregard for its people’s right to democracy. Read my statement: https://t.co/UFAyx8X4AR
⚡️ US State Department condemns 'sham parliamentary elections' in Belarus. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Feb. 25 denounced the parliamentary elections held in Belarus the same day, calling them a sham. https://t.co/3jbMWKG87g
US Department of State: We condemn the sham parliamentary elections today in Belarus. Impossible to hold free and fair elections in a climate of fear and with 1400 political prisoners. We support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people https://t.co/7bPaWlgWBk
US condemns 'sham' elections in Belarus -State Dept https://t.co/1zGG9HSobs https://t.co/6VSE04t5FU
We condemn the sham parliamentary elections today in Belarus. Impossible to hold free and fair elections in a climate of fear and with 1400+ political prisoners. We support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people.
#Belarus You might be surprised, but no Belarusians abroad came to vote at the specially created polling station in Minsk. Do you think it's because the regime keeps arresting people who travel to Belarus from abroad? 🤔 https://t.co/USDBmyFImT
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed Belarusians from more than two thousand screens all over Belarus Yesterday afternoon, in #Belarus, thousands of screens across the country started broadcasting the video address of the national opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the… https://t.co/o2LxDhzpGp
#Belarus In the Homiel region, a voter was detained by police for taking a photo of a ballot. The regime has prohibited taking pictures at polling stations and left voting booths open without curtains. Security measures have been heightened at polling stations nationwide. https://t.co/u8zcpSn7gv
Farce. Fraud. Sham. Scam. Circus. Imitation. Ritual. Military operation. There are many words to describe what is happening today in #Belarus. But don’t call it elections.
In a striking "V for Vendetta" moment, Tsikhanouskaya's video message infiltrated about 2000 screens across Belarus on February 24, 2024. It mirrored scenes from the iconic film. It shows a power of digital dissent, unnerving the KGB with its unexpected reach and bold message https://t.co/gIaowMlQUG
The #Belarus regime's so-called elections today fail to meet any democratic standards, resembling more a military operation against its own citizens, the constitution & common sense. I urge Belarusians & the international community to categorically reject this sham. https://t.co/oPDqDvvQpQ
BREAKING: Massive digital protest as @osbbelpol hacks 2000 screens across Belarus, broadcasting Svietlana @Tsihanouskaya’s message urging support for Ukraine and resistance against sham elections. Screens were down after 2 hours. https://t.co/UHclDEI8d2
Great success! Today, our friends from @osbbelpol have hacked 2000 screens in public spaces all over Belarus and played the address of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, calling to support Ukraine, ignore sham elections & continue resistance. It took 2 hours to take it down https://t.co/JQtT8sRUVA
When Belarusians go to the polls for parliamentary and local elections, their 69-year-old dictator will leave little to chance. And his crackdown on civil society is being bankrolled by Vladimir Putin https://t.co/b45Dv9nmuK 👇