DISINFO: Belarus and Russia withstood attempts of a soft coup d'état
SUMMARY
The technology for a velvet revolution was widely used in the summer of 2020 in Belarus. Later, the same toolbox was attempted in Russia. Both countries withstood the attempts of a soft coup d’état.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about protests in Belarus and Russia. The EUvsDisinfo database contains almost 400 similar claims, attempting to describe protests anywhere in the world - from Venezuela to Hong Kong and currently in Russia- as a result of foreign involvement.
The protests in Belarus have continued for over six months, despite severe police repression. The protests erupted to contest the results of the presidential election in Belarus on the 9th of August, which were not monitored by independent expertsand are largely considered fraudulent by both international observers and a big part of Belarusian society. On 19 August 2020, the European Council called the Belarusian elections neither free nor fair. In October 2020, the EU-Council imposed sanctions against 40 individuals identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process.
In Russia, thousands have taken to the streets in January 2021 in support of Alexei Navalny, protesting against corruption, stagnation and the lack of democratic liberties in Russia. The protestors have gathered peacefully and in accordance with Russian constitutional law. The only manifestation of violence recorded has been the brutal crackdown of police forces on demonstrators. The EU has condemned mass detentions and police brutality during the protests in Russia.