Protests in Belarus
London, 18 August 2020 – In the first episode of Trouble with the Truth, Lana Estemirova interviews Mariya Sadouskaya Komlach, Belarussian journalist and a media analyst based in Europe.
The conversation is focused on the challenges of reporting in times of the revolution, how and why the protests started, what is happening with the President-elect Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and finally – what the international response to President Lukashenko’s war against his people should be.
Since 9 August, Belarus witnessed the most remarkable protests in its history. Angered by the rigged presidential election, people took to the streets, calling for Alexander Lukashenko to resign. His government responded with brutal force: riot police indiscriminately attacked peaceful protesters and imprisoned thousands. The reports coming from journalists and ordinary citizens speak of violent beating, torture and inhumane conditions in prisons. The work of independent journalists was also hindered by blocked internet, targeted beatings and illegal imprisonments.
Trouble with the Truth is the podcast produced by Lana Estemirova in partnership with the Justice for Journalists Foundation. Lana talks to brave and resilient journalists from around the world who face persecution just for doing their job and lets her audience hear voices that usually remain hidden behind the curtain.