Description

Mass protests that erupted following the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus in August 2020 created new forms of solidarity, activism, and personal responsibility — values that dictatorships strive to suppress. Students were at the forefront of those events, facing brutal suppression of protests by the state’s security apparatus and large-scale persecution.

This collection consists of 25 essays by students, bearing witness to their incredible experiences of protests, detentions, torture, and forced emigration. The book is a timely response to the acute need for lived narratives about inspiring and tragic days, traumas, and reflections on the democratic future of the country.

The authors testify to the peaceful nature of the Belarusian people’s struggle for freedom. The book is a powerful reminder of a reality that the regime seeks to erase or distort. It gives a voice to the youth, explaining their motives and vision for the future of Belarus. These stories will become an important resource for researchers, activists, and politicians, strengthening the hope for change both within Belarus and beyond its borders.