No Way Back for Belarus - Experts React

Early election results in Belarus give Europe's "last dictator," President Alexander Lukashenko, a landslide victory over opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya as protests erupt in the country. We've rounded up reactions on Twitter from GMF experts:

Maryna Rakhlei on the movement among Belarus citizens in the fight for freedom:

Evolution of a #Belarus citizen: from “oh hopefully I won’t be fined for wearing a wrong T-shirt” to “Cool, I am still alive, tomorrow we can go back to the streets to protest” https://t.co/W272oD9tek

— Maryna Rakhlei (@MarynaRakhlei) August 10, 2020

No way back for #Belarus https://t.co/UOzQdFJiWw

— Maryna Rakhlei (@MarynaRakhlei) August 10, 2020

Initiative Honest People claims that 85 polling stations (out of more than 5.500) reported electoral victory of Tsikhanouskaja. These protocols give us a glimpse of the real vs. official results of #Belarus elections. https://t.co/BSJe17gDwe

— Maryna Rakhlei (@MarynaRakhlei) August 10, 2020

Officially, 3.000 ppl detained across #Belarus yesterday, around 50 civilians and 39 policemen injured. Human rights defenders have different numbers: several hundred detained, dozens injured, one dead. https://t.co/rEmGiFDFwa

— Maryna Rakhlei (@MarynaRakhlei) August 10, 2020

After this night, for #Belarus, its society, its ruling elite, its military, there’s no way back. It’s a different country now.

— Maryna Rakhlei (@MarynaRakhlei) August 10, 2020

Across #Belarus, in several dozen towns thousands are in the streets to symbolically protect their vote. They have to fight back riot police as detentions continue. It’s amazing to see this unity and solidarity, however, unclear what’s next. https://t.co/G3lZdPZmND

— Maryna Rakhlei (@MarynaRakhlei) August 9, 2020

Jonathan Katz on the push for greater independence: 

Yes concerns abt #Putin. However it’s Kremlin miscalculation like in Ukraine that will push Belarusians further o path of greater self-identity & independence. I don’t think Belarusian seek another repressive authoritarian, weak economy & failed covid response. @Biz_Ukraine_Mag https://t.co/m28HW4LpoH

— Jonathan Katz (@JonDKatz) August 10, 2020

Josh Rudolph on exit polls:

Curious why disputed Belarus state exit polls picked 79.7% and not 55%?

Here’s a data point: Cheaters insert 7s over four times more often than 5s, according to a statistical analysis of Iran’s 2009 election that Ahmadinejad said he won with 67%. Study: https://t.co/PJqM5DlZX1 https://t.co/i8UAjBQ6I8

— Josh Rudolph (@JoshRudes) August 9, 2020

Nicolas Bouchet on the global reaction:

There's been good statements from like this one from Brussels and elsewhere in Europe today on #Belarus. Now that Washington is up, waiting to see if the Trump administration and @StateDept will also step up by condemning the sham "election" and Lukashenka's repression. https://t.co/7LZQrtV1n5

— Nicolas Bouchet (@nickbouchet) August 10, 2020

Well said, @SecPompeo .

And since you obviously have been watching the news today, freedoms are being eviscerated and rights eroded right now in #Belarus too, so a statement from you would be useful at this point. https://t.co/JEqR7EX6Ga pic.twitter.com/8vjrPRRSAk

— Nicolas Bouchet (@nickbouchet) August 10, 2020