Belsat.PHOTODOC
Revolution is a woman
Voices and faces of Belarusian protest
Belsat.PHOTODOC
Revolution is a woman
Voices and faces of Belarusian protest
Protests in Belarus began almost immediately after the closure of polling stations on the evening of August 9, 2020. Along with the men, hundreds of women took to the streets to protest. Beautiful, bold and courageous, they spoke about the presidential elections being rigged and their votes being stolen. For this, many of them were beaten, maimed and humiliated in paddy wagons, police stations, prisons. But this did not frighten the Belarusian women. On the contrary, it made them angry and motivated to fight for their ideals and beliefs. Already on August 12, with flowers in their hands, they lined up in female only solidarity chains, protecting their children, husbands and boyfriends, fathers and brothers, friends and themselves.
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We've had enough! There are lots of us, and this is our country.You can't put everyone in jail!
We've had enough! There are lots of us, and this is our country.You can't put everyone in jail!
Women also yelled in protest at rallies and actions. Never before had Belarusians, and Belarusian women in particular, so massively taken to the streets. But the events of August 9-11, 2020 united them and inspired them to fight together for their country, for their family. This is an special time in history, witnessed by the documentary photographer Julia Szablowska.
For many years, the Belarusian woman quietly did her "female work": she took care of the house and children, was a charming friend, wife, mother. But in August 2020, the rules of the game changed. Each of them has found her own unique voice. And together they speak clearly and loudly.
For many years, the Belarusian woman quietly did her "female work": she took care of the house and children, was a charming friend, wife, mother. But in August 2020, the rules of the game changed. Each of them has found her own unique voice. And together they speak clearly and loudly.
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Lukashenka did everything possible for this kind of female protest to be formed in Belarus. For so many years he hurled sexist insults and disrespected us .... It was obvious that sooner or later women would get tired of this state of affairs. But even now, when there are already thousands of us on the streets, he continues to fuel the conflict with his comments, forcing women to leave their families and work, to go out to the squares. So we need to thank the current government for the women's protests.
Aren't you scared to go out?
Of course, I am. But I am driven by even greater fear: I understand that Lukashenka's regime will never be the same. It is not the best there is now, but it will only get worse. Thus, it is much more scary for me to live in a country with such a person at the head and a political default than to serve 15 days in jail or be hit by a truncheon a couple of times.
Aren't you scared to go out?
Of course, I am. But I am driven by even greater fear: I understand that Lukashenka's regime will never be the same. It is not the best there is now, but it will only get worse. Thus, it is much more scary for me to live in a country with such a person at the head and a political default than to serve 15 days in jail or be hit by a truncheon a couple of times.
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When at the Kamarouka market rally riot police surrounded the participants of the women's march, I stood deep inside the group and considered our options. Before that, the police did not brutalize girls, but at that moment it became clear that now the police would definitely do it. And so I stood and thought: I should have put on more comfortable underwear, warn my mother, finish writing a work letter ...
Do you dress comfortably now?
Yes! I began to wear bras without wires, I put on thermal underwear, warm socks, I take one more pair with me. I bought a new phone to go to protests with. There is no access to my personal and work information, I am not scared to break it or lose it. I also always take menstrual pads with me and a small snack with water. That's it, I don't need anything else.
Do you dress comfortably now?
Yes! I began to wear bras without wires, I put on thermal underwear, warm socks, I take one more pair with me. I bought a new phone to go to protests with. There is no access to my personal and work information, I am not scared to break it or lose it. I also always take menstrual pads with me and a small snack with water. That's it, I don't need anything else.
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The early days were the worst. On August 9, a stun grenade exploded three meters away from me. On August 10, I found myself at the barricades near the [supermarket] Riga. We went by car to the city, but there was no mobile internet access. We did not understand what was happening there [at the Riga]. For a while, everything was calm and peaceful, we felt an indescribable feeling of solidarity. But then security forces began to spray tear gas, and grenades flew again. My friends, dad and I got into the car, somehow got into the parking lot, parked there and waited. When the smoke cleared, a group of people in black ran towards us, about 50 people. Dad quickly taxied out of the parking lot, on the way we broke through some barricades, drove past military hardware... And when everything seemed to be over, a red dot appeared on Dad. My heart sank: is it a laser sight? It turned out to be an ordinary laser used to check cars. We were saved again, but it was very scary.
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Are you afraid of being detained?
Very much so.
What exactly are you afraid of?
I'm afraid to be locked up for several days. I'm afraid of getting hit on my back or head with a truncheon. I also don't want to hear their conversations. I'm scared to imagine what is really going on in their heads.
Very much so.
What exactly are you afraid of?
I'm afraid to be locked up for several days. I'm afraid of getting hit on my back or head with a truncheon. I also don't want to hear their conversations. I'm scared to imagine what is really going on in their heads.
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I am not surprised that women have taken charge in Belarus. It is not clear to me why the men did not do it. How do they tolerate what is happening? People are deprived of their legal rights, and women are beaten and raped not by serial killers, not by maniacs, but by officers of the law! Thus, protesting against this violence and lawlessness is a normal civil position of any person. It doesn't matter if you are a woman or a man. It's just that there are more women and girls who are not afraid now in Belarus for some reason.
Take me, for example. I don't have a family and children yet. But already now I first of all think not about myself, but my future children. I think that this is the motive of many who take to the streets. I want to live in my country and I want my child here to be safe, happy and know what human rights are, and not constant fear.
Take me, for example. I don't have a family and children yet. But already now I first of all think not about myself, but my future children. I think that this is the motive of many who take to the streets. I want to live in my country and I want my child here to be safe, happy and know what human rights are, and not constant fear.
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I'm pretty cowardly, I always try to avoid security officials. But when the movement at the factories had just begun, I immediately went there with my friend to support MAZ workers. And so we got out of the metro and came face to face with the riot police. Our first thought was to turn around and run away, close the door at home and sit tight.
This was the first time I saw them so close. Now, after a while, I began to look at the man in a black helmet and gear as a soulless doll. No, I have not stopped being afraid of security officials. Otherwise, my brain refuses to accept and understand all the nonsense they are doing. And somehow I felt better. Now, when I see them on the marches, I try not to make sudden movements, not to make them nervous. This is how people behave around wild or aggressive animals.
This was the first time I saw them so close. Now, after a while, I began to look at the man in a black helmet and gear as a soulless doll. No, I have not stopped being afraid of security officials. Otherwise, my brain refuses to accept and understand all the nonsense they are doing. And somehow I felt better. Now, when I see them on the marches, I try not to make sudden movements, not to make them nervous. This is how people behave around wild or aggressive animals.
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My personal struggle began on August 4, when I joined the independent observers. The events of August 9 just brought all the accumulated emotions to a boil.
Late in the afternoon, the neighbors began to come to the site. Some came in sweatpants and sneakers, not thinking that in a couple of hours the revolution would start, the riot police would come and grab us.
And so we were sitting outside the school, waiting for the election results. We hoped that they would still let us in. It got dark. And then my husband began to tell people we should disperse. I didn't understand what happened, but then black silhouettes appeared from the darkness and moved towards us. They looked like they were ready to kill someone. We were five female observers, we quickly and unconsciously stood in a chain at the school door and started yelling: "We are independent observers! We're not going anywhere! We have the right!" They did not beat us, but they spoke to us very rudely, towering above us with their bodies. My mother kept crying: "Tanya, go away! Tanya, go away!" It was scary: it was the first time I saw a riot policeman so close. All in black, in a balaclava, he shone a flashlight in our eyes...
We were treated so badly that evening that I realized: we must not forgive, we must not let go, we must not forget the main thing. I bought a piece of cardboard, made a poster "Give Back Our Voices" and now go to protests with it. At first, when the girls gave flowers to riot police, they looked askance at my poster. But I continued to come, I never hid, and I am not hiding now. I proudly leave home and take public transport with it [the poster].
Late in the afternoon, the neighbors began to come to the site. Some came in sweatpants and sneakers, not thinking that in a couple of hours the revolution would start, the riot police would come and grab us.
And so we were sitting outside the school, waiting for the election results. We hoped that they would still let us in. It got dark. And then my husband began to tell people we should disperse. I didn't understand what happened, but then black silhouettes appeared from the darkness and moved towards us. They looked like they were ready to kill someone. We were five female observers, we quickly and unconsciously stood in a chain at the school door and started yelling: "We are independent observers! We're not going anywhere! We have the right!" They did not beat us, but they spoke to us very rudely, towering above us with their bodies. My mother kept crying: "Tanya, go away! Tanya, go away!" It was scary: it was the first time I saw a riot policeman so close. All in black, in a balaclava, he shone a flashlight in our eyes...
We were treated so badly that evening that I realized: we must not forgive, we must not let go, we must not forget the main thing. I bought a piece of cardboard, made a poster "Give Back Our Voices" and now go to protests with it. At first, when the girls gave flowers to riot police, they looked askance at my poster. But I continued to come, I never hid, and I am not hiding now. I proudly leave home and take public transport with it [the poster].
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Belarusians are inexperienced revolutionaries. But when the women first came to the Kamarouka market, everything turned upside down. The violence was stopped, even if only for a while. But I think it was us, women, who, with all our marches and chains of solidarity, instilled in Belarus the belief that anything is possible. It is thanks to us that thousands of people still take to the streets and fight for their own and our future. This is how women gave the country a revolution.
The story features testimonies of active female participants of the Belarusian protests.
BELSAT.EU
Photos and text: Julia Szablowska
Editor: Olga Erokhina
Editor: Olga Erokhina
Belsat.PHOTODOC is a new project of the Belsat photo service. It will acquaint our readers and viewers with the works of documentary photographers and photo reporters who are interested in Belarusian issues.
You can send your stories and projects to belsat.photodoc@gmail.com
You can send your stories and projects to belsat.photodoc@gmail.com
The story features testimonies of active female participants of the Belarusian protests.
BELSAT.EU
Photos and text:
Julia Szablowska
Editor:
Olga Erokhina
Julia Szablowska
Editor:
Olga Erokhina
Belsat.PHOTODOC is a new project of the Belsat photo service. It will acquaint our readers and viewers with the works of documentary photographers and photo reporters who are interested in Belarusian issues.
You can send your stories and projects to belsat.photodoc@gmail.com
You can send your stories and projects to belsat.photodoc@gmail.com
© 2020