Belarusian partisan movement (2020–present)
Part of the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests and Reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
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
StatusOngoing
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties
Death(s)Unknown
InjuriesSeveral
ArrestedAt least 60[1]

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

2021

The Belarusian partisan movement emerged after the suppression of the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests. In January, a Belarusian was arrested after an arson attack against a T-72 tank at Ściapianka railway station in Minsk.[2] The Cyber Partisans conducted a campaign of cyberattacks on the regime's internet infrastructure in mid-2021, including the release of personal information of thousands of regime officials, police, military, and regime propagandists.[3] On September 25, a partisan cell under Busły liaciać attacked an OMON base in Uručča with an incendiary mixture dropped from a drone,[4] and in December, another cell attacked a training base of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Valoŭščyna.[5] Throughout the year, partisans participated in blocking railways, destroying CCTV, damaging infrastructure used by the regime, and actions against regime officials.[6]

2022

Partisan activity increased in the buildup to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In mid-January, the Cyber Partisans launched a cyberattack on infrastructure of Belarusian Railways, severely delaying the movement of Russian transport in Belarus; they stated they would decrypt the systems upon the release of 50 prisoners and Russian troops being removed from Belarus.[7] During the Battle of Kyiv, BYPOL and Belarusian partisans published information on how to disable railway signalling boxes, which severely disrupted the Russian logistic network.[8] In March near Babrujsk, regime security services fired on partisans who set fire railway signals;[9] and by late April there were at least 11 partisans detained.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

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.

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.[13]

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.[13]

Reactions

The Lukashenko regime has cracked down harshly on partisans. Belarusian courts, which are under regime control, have placed terror charges on partisans,[14] a charge which carries the death penalty in Belarus.

In September 2023 a Belarusian law removed the possibility of renewing official documents at Embassy's 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.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Three Belarusian 'Railway Guerrillas' May Face Death Penalty". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  2. ↑ "10 гадоў калоніі за падпал танка, які Мінабароны назвала фэйкам". 26 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "The hackers trying to overthrow Belarusian leader Lukashenko". The Independent. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  4. ↑ "Атаковали дронами. Белорусские партизаны сбросили на базу ОМОНа горючую смесь (видео)". ФОКУС (in Russian). 25 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  5. ↑ ""Буслы ляцяць": Мы не тэрарысты. Наадварот – мы займаемся антытэрорам". belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "Ад флэш-мобаў да атак з дронаў. Як беларусы змагаліся з рэжымам Лукашэнкі ў 2021 годзе". belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Белорусские партизаны устроили кибератаку на БелЖД для остановки войск РФ (фото)". ФОКУС (in Russian). 25 January 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  8. ↑ "Матолька: "Дзейнасць беларускіх партызанаў парушыла да 80 % лагістыкі расейскага войска"". belsat.eu (in Belarusian).
  9. ↑ "Сілавікі пад Бабруйскам адкрылі агонь па "рэйкавых партызанах"". belsat.eu. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "Праваабаронцы прызналі палітвязнямі 11 "рэйкавых партызанаў"". PolskieRadio.pl. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Як там план "Перамога"? Спыталі ў BYPOL, ці актуальны ён, – і ці будзе нацыянальна-вызваленчае войска". belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "В Мачулищах подорван самолёт ДРЛО А-50". Telegram. BYPOL.
  13. 1 2 "Belarusians in exile: an overlooked issue addressed by the Parliamentary Assembly". 25 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "Чарговы "тэрарыст". Крымінальнаю справу жыхара Стоўбцаў Сяргея Глебка перадалі ў суд". belsat.eu. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Belarus: Decree Puts Exiled Citizens at Risk". 8 September 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.