Belarus, this unknown. What do we know about this country, besides its undemocratic leadership and connections to Russia? Do you know that the year 2020 marked a pivotal moment for Belarus? While the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Belarus was engulfed in mass protests against the fraudulent election results. These protests were met with severe police brutality and widespread violence to uphold the dictatorship. The brief period of liberalization was swiftly crushed by the authoritarian regime, undoing the progress made by the business, IT, NGOs and civil society before 2020. Persecutions and imprisonments led to a significant exodus from Belarus. In her presentation, Dr Vasilevich will provide insights on Belarus and its politics, exploring the consequences of these mass protests and the severe impact of the repressive regime on civil society, with a particular focus on national minorities.