The Belarusian Revolution of 2020-2021 with Hanna Liubakova (WiM340)
Jul 17, 2023
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Hanna Liubakova, a Belarusian journalist and activist, discusses the oppressive Belarusian regime, brutal dispersion of protesters, media blackout, and people's resistance. The podcast also touches on gold investment, Bitcoin wallet security, and the battle for freedom against totalitarianism.
The Belarusian Revolution of 2020-2021 was sparked by dissatisfaction with President Lukashenko's handling of COVID-19 and the economy, leading to widespread protests and discontent across the country.
Despite the oppressive environment and media censorship, Belarusians display resilience by utilizing VPNs, self-made newspapers, and other means to circumvent censorship and spread truthful information.
Deep dives
Belarusian Revolution of 2020: Protests against Lukashenko
In the Belarusian Revolution of 2020, people protested against President Lukashenko due to his mishandling of COVID-19 and a deteriorating economy. The protests spread across the country and mobilized various social and professional groups, demonstrating widespread discontent. The regime responded with brutal repressions, arresting thousands of people, including journalists, who were labeled extremists and terrorists. Media, including independent outlets, were heavily censored and banned, making it challenging for the populace to access truthful and objective information. Despite the regime's attempts to suppress the revolution, the fight for freedom continues, both above and underground.
Suppression of Freedom of Speech in Belarus
Freedom of speech has been continually suppressed in Belarus, with media and independent outlets controlled by the regime since Lukashenko's election in 1994. Journalists face arrests on charges of extremism, and even mundane acts like wearing clothes of a certain color can lead to imprisonment. The regime blatantly disregards the rights of its citizens, arresting and silencing them without any pretense of legality. The KGB, still in operation in Belarus, surveils citizens both digitally and physically. Yet, despite the oppressive environment, people display resilience, utilizing VPNs, self-made newspapers, and other means to circumvent censorship and spread information.
Using Technology to Mobilize and Circumvent Repression
In the Belarusian Revolution of 2020, technology played a crucial role in mobilizing protesters and spreading information. Telegram, a popular messaging app, became a platform for expressing dissent and sharing news and protest details. With channels gathering millions of subscribers, social mobilization and solidarity were strengthened as people witnessed the scale of public discontent. To counter this, the regime declared telegram channels extremist, but banning them was difficult due to the nature of the technology. The KGB surveils citizens in various ways, including digital surveillance and police checks, however, people creatively use VPNs and developed an alternative app to communicate. Despite internet censorship and media blackout, Belarusians continue to resist and seek truthful information through various means.
The Importance of Unstoppable Money in Revolution
In the context of Belarusian revolution, the regime's control over financial transactions poses a challenge for funding protests and supporting political prisoners. Bitcoin has played a significant role in allowing money to flow to those inside the country despite the regime's attempts to hinder financial transactions. By learning to use Bitcoin, workers on strike and individuals providing support have been able to navigate around the regime's restrictions. Unstoppable money becomes crucial in upholding the flow of funds, enabling resistance against oppressive regimes like Lukashenko's.
Hanna Liubakova joins me to discuss the oppression of the Belarusian Regime, the brutal dispersion of protesters, and ways to deconstruct the systems of oppression.
Hanna Liubakova is a Belarusian journalist, television presenter, writer, researcher, and activist.
// OUTLINE // 00:00 - Coming up 00:49 - Intro 02:22 - Helping Lightning Startups with In Wolf's Clothing 03:08 - Introducing Hanna Liubakova 03:40 - Belarusian Protests of 2020 05:56 - Oppressive Nature of Belarusian Regime 07:09 - The Freedom of Speech 07:46 - Socio-Political Environment of Belarus 08:56 - Career Story of Hanna Liubakova 10:43 - Media Blackout and People's Resistance 15:13 - Maximize Your Profits with Gold Investment Letter 16:09 - Secure Your Bitcoin Stash with the iCoin Hardware Wallet 17:06 - Social Media Censorship 20:15 - How Long This Suppression May Last? 22:11 - Brutal Dispersion of Protesters 23:33 - Mental Battle Against the Oppression 28:30 - Hanna's Speech from the Oslo Freedom Forum 32:25 - A Bitcoin Wallet with Privacy Built-In: Wasabi Wallet 33:15 - Hold Bitcoin in the Most Secure Custody Model with Casa 34:03 - How to Deal with the Dark Side of Humanity 38:42 - The Role of Bitcoin in the Belarusian Revolution 41:45 - Words of Encouragement from Hanna 43:45 - Where to Find Hanna on the Internet