Thread by @StefSimanowitz

1/. “If you go there as tourists and return with nothing, it's better not to return to the country. I am telling you this as the president...interpret it as you want". President Lukashenka to #Belarus’ #Olympics team:

So far, the Belarusian team won no medals at @Tokyo2020

2/. #BREAKING: "I couldn’t stay silent" (Alyaksandra Herasimienia, #Olympics medalist, detained for 15 days)

#Belarus athletes sacrifice their careers & freedom by speaking out against human rights violations

@amnesty briefing out today #StandWithBelarus
amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

3/. Ystdy, athlete Kryscina Tsimanouskaya was taken to the airport in Tokyo after the #Belarus #Olympics committee tried to forcibly repatriate her

Today, she is reportedly ‘safe & secure' in Tokyo & Poland & Czech Rep have offered her visas #OlympicGames

4/. Q: How can a group of unarmed women in #Belarus strike fear into a bunch of secret policemen?

A: Pull off their balaclavas

LESSON: Tyranny thrives in secrecy

We must strip off the tyrants masks & reveal the truth for all to see

It’s what they fear

5/. The truth is powerful. It’s why the powerful try & hide it

or distract from it

or silence it

Unmasking iniquity isn’t easy

It needs good journalism, a strong civil society, & people willing to hold govt & business to account
#Olympics #OlympicGames

6/. Journalist, @Den_2042, says a source suggests security officials in #Belarus “are heading to the parents of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya” (N.B. UNCONFIRMED)

Her husband has travelled to Ukraine rptdly for fear of prosecution. He says #Tsimanouskaya’s decision was not pre-planned.

https://twitter.com/Den_2042/status/1422143730547580929

7/. “We consider the actions of security forces to be illegal & unacceptable”

Journalist @Den_2042 suggests this 17/8/20 post by Krystsina Tsimanouskaya - with a photo of of her holding a “Make sport, not war” poster - might be a reason why #Belarus authorities are targeting her

8/. After the fraudulent elections in #Belarus, EU @eu_eeas imposed 4 packages of sanctions

In Aug 2020, 1,000+ athletes signed a letter calling for new elections, an end to torture, & a halt to arrests of demonstrators

Retaliation came quickly #Olympics

9/. "Law enforcement officers have abandoned their oath to protect fellow citizens & have been given free rein to use indiscriminate violence & mass arbitrary arrests against them” @amnesty

Look what happens if you walk in Minsk, #Belarus, with a camera

10/. SASHA: How’s life is in #Belarus?

TANYA: We can't complain

SASHA: That's good. Glad to hear it

TANYA: No, seriously. We CAN’T complain!
#Lukashenko #Tokyo2020 #KrystinaTsimanouskaya #KrystsinaTsimanouskaya #Olympics #Olympics2020 #Olympics2020 #Olympics2021 #Tokio2020

11/. Yesterday, activist Vitaliy Shyshow from #Belarus, reportedly went missing in Ukraine

Today, Ukrainian police have reportedly launched an investigation after his body was "found hanged today in one of Kyiv's parks not far from his place of residence.”#StandWithBelarus #Kiev

https://twitter.com/den_2042/status/1422197508504174593