(Minsk) – Belarus May Cut Off Internet Access in Case of Election Unrest, Lukashenko Warns
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has warned that his government may completely shut down the Internet in the country if there are mass protests or unrest during the upcoming elections, a move reminiscent of similar actions taken in 2020.
In a recent statement, Lukashenko explained that if unrest were to occur, Belarus would block internet access, just as it had done four years ago with his personal authorization. He cited the potential threat of foreign interference and attempts to incite chaos as reasons for his government’s strict measures.
Lukashenko further expressed his belief that external forces, particularly other states, would try to destabilize Belarus by using the internet to encourage protests. “If mass unrest happens again, we will completely disconnect it,” Lukashenko stated. He added that such actions were usually carried out with his consent, particularly during the early stages of unrest.
In 2020, Belarus experienced a significant political crisis following disputed elections, which led to widespread protests across the country. The government, under Lukashenko’s leadership, responded by cutting off access to the internet and cracking down on opposition forces. Lukashenko justified these actions by claiming they were necessary to prevent foreign powers from meddling in Belarusian affairs and stoking unrest.
The Belarusian president has consistently framed his government’s efforts as essential to maintaining national stability. He argued that without these measures, the country could have descended into a conflict even worse than the war currently unfolding in neighboring Ukraine. “I realized what we could come to. We would have had a war worse than the one in Ukraine. It would have been tougher,” Lukashenko remarked.