THREAD. Summary of this dark evening in #Belarus
1. Protests were NOT initiated by #Tsikhanouskaya, she only called for gathering near polling stations & waiting for results. Simultaneously, popular Telegram NEXTA called for peaceful protest gatherings in city centres nationwide
1. Protests were NOT initiated by #Tsikhanouskaya, she only called for gathering near polling stations & waiting for results. Simultaneously, popular Telegram NEXTA called for peaceful protest gatherings in city centres nationwide
2. Both strategies worked. People came to make pressure on election commissions. At several polling stations voices were even fairly counted & #Tsikhanouskaya won over #Lukashenka. Then people went to protest on the streets: it was not coordinated or centralised, but nationwide
3. Police violence in #Minsk was unprecedented for Belarus (water, gas, rubber bullets, stun grenades), many injuries, deaths could be expected. But in several cities in regions police took the people's side (video). More on specific of regions here: outride.rs/en/why-belarus…
4. Belarusians look happy, inspired & united, but also shocked by the violence, very angry with #Lukashenka & police & seem to be ready to protest more for change. Official results to be published on 10th August. Reaction from #Tsikhanouskaya to come
5. Official expected almost 80% for #Lukashenka (pro-state exit polls) will not look realistic. It is a very bad political step, people will not beleive these figures: they saw how many came to vote today (huge lines), falsifications were too obvious, no support for him in public
6. What happens next? After results are known, #Tsikhanouskaya might call for further protests nationwide & join the people (though it has not been her strategy so far), or she could initiate a nation strike, f.ex. Clear is that people will not buy this "elegant" victory anymore
