Bitcoin Forum

Elections in Belarus, protests and economic hurdles

Belarus is considered as the last dictatorship active in Europe. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been accused of electoral fraud for decades and is in office since 1994 and the collapse of the former Soviet Union. This is 26 years currently. The latest Belarusian elections are disputed and a series of massive protests against Lukashenko and his government are taking place in most Belarusian cities for more than three months.(Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Belarusian_protests))

It is important to add that Belarus is one of the poorest countries in Europe, minimum wage is around $140, and the rest official data is manipulated by the government to a point that it is hard to make a valid analysis. The Belarusian government is accused of rigging the elections and the opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sviatlana_Tsikhanouskaya) claims victory with at least 60% of the votes. The authoritarian government is trying to crack down the peaceful protests of Belarusian citizens from more than three months and there have been reported many cases of torture of detainees and human rights violations by UN experts, as well as cases of enforced disappearances of vital members of the opposition. (Source: United Nations (https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26199&LangID=E))

The situation is far worse and I only gave a brief description without moving into more of the reports coming from Belarus and the UN. The Belarus elections took place between 4-8 August and it was announced that Lukashenko won with 80,1% of the voters. Belarus also cut off the internet from their citizens during the heat of the protests on August 10th blaming outside forces and large scale DDoS attacks. Although it seems that VPNs weren't affected but internet speeds were slower than usual. (Source: Vice (https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/z3e8v3/belarus-cut-off-the-internet-and-tried-to-make-it-look-like-an-accident))
A major cryptocurrency exchange in Belarus Currency.com announced they were dealing successfully with all the internet shortage problems. (Source: forklog (https://forklog.com/nko-nachala-vyplaty-v-bitkoinah-uvolennym-belorusam-i-zadumalas-o-sozdanii-paralellnoj-kriptoekonomiki/) the link also contains information on how to bypass internet blocking)

Also important about the Belarus Economy is the depreciation of the national currency. The government has limited liquidity and issuance of loans for the retail and corporate sector in a bit to strengthen the ruble but these restrictions may lead to a shadow currency market.
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister stated that "the Belarusian economy is on the verge of collapse". (Source: Interfax (https://interfax.com.ua/news/political/684696.html))


Bitcoin is already helping

The good news comes with the use of Bitcoin as a way to fund the opposition in a country where all funding options have been cut-off by the government. A Dutch NGO (non-profit/government organization) "Bysol (http://www.belaruswith.me/english)" - Belarusian Solidarity Fund" (link: http://belaruswith.me/) has started funding Belarusian dissidents using Bitcoin as means of payments.

Belarusian protestors that were fired from their job for political reasons can apply for aid and a one-time payment of 1500 euro that will be deposited in their Bitcoin account. The move is seen as a system of parallel currency and a free economy movement for Belarus, with the help of Bitcoin.

Three categories can apply for payments:

• employees of state enterprises dismissed for active civic stance;
• civil servants and security officials who left office due to disagreement with the actions of the current government;
  
• employees of state enterprises who are on strike, but not dismissed, who have no one to replace (for example, miners).
  

The requirements for the Bitcoin payments are:

• The one-time payment is € 1,500

• Applicants must prove the fact of dismissal or participation in protests at enterprises

• Publicly declare their citizenship in a video message

(Source: forklog (https://forklog.com/nko-nachala-vyplaty-v-bitkoinah-uvolennym-belorusam-i-zadumalas-o-sozdanii-paralellnoj-kriptoekonomiki/))


Tech sector asks for radical changes

Meanwhile, a Trustee wallet representative in Belarus and CEO of Crypto Emcee (https://cryptoemcee.com/) Eugene Romanenko, who is also hosting cryptocurrency conferences in the country, was arrested on August 9 (Source (https://42.tut.by/696823)) but he was released a few days later. He spoke out of the role of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies:
"Decentralization is the main sign of the Belarusian protest in 2020. Don't forget that Belarus is a world-famous IT country. Belarusians have learned how to communicate effectively using Telegram and Viber. What prevents them from transferring money to each other 24/7/365 in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? Nothing. Turn off the Internet - Web 3.0 will help out"
"The laid-off workers are already receiving support in Bitcoins. The next step is to sell goods/services for cryptocurrency, bypassing fiat money. The next step is to sell goods/services for cryptocurrency, bypassing fiat money. There are already dozens of stores ready to put up price tags in cryptocurrencies. Before our eyes, the birth of the Belarusian crypto-economy is taking place, in which millions of Belarusians will be involved within a year or two."

This event in my opinion is huge and perhaps similar in effect to the Cyprus banking crisis of 2013, although different in circumstances. Bitcoin besides other features has a use case that is to bypass central governments and authoritarian regimes and help fund dissidents in their fight against corrupt and oppressive governments.


Other sources and more information:
Coindesk: Belarus Nonprofit Helps Protestors With Bitcoin Grants (https://www.coindesk.com/belarus-dissidents-bitcoin)
Beincrypto: Dutch NGO is Sending Bitcoin Aid to Protestors in Belarus (https://beincrypto.com/dutch-ngo-is-sending-bitcoin-aid-to-protestors-in-belarus/)
Sifted: Belarus Tech Protests (https://sifted.eu/articles/belarus-tech-protests/)

This situation may become very unusual in history of this country and in the world history as well. But it is a bit ambiguous. From one side it may help BTC become more popular as a good example of new opportunities comparing with ordinary banking cards or fiat money, but from the other side it is not clear nowadays will it give something more for developing of BTC and mass adoption there and in the whole world. I can add only that it is a pity that different political processes are very often associated with technological things and good ideas and products. But sometimes it helps to develop and to attract mass attention to some directions and processes.

I checked, and while the minimum wage is still low, it's now 375 Belarusian rubles or $140. As for the protests and totalitarianism, you are absolutely right. It's inspiring and unique that Belarus is finally fighting for a change, and I hope they'll succeed with their demand of fair elections.
I've read lots of things about the protests and I follow what's going on there, but it's the first time I'm seeing this information about Bitcoin. I'm not surprised they are using it because it's not the first time protestors do that. However, I thought it might be problematic there due to the Internet being blocked and slowed down across the country...

Taking into account all that is happening in Belarus, it can be assumed that in the near future, crypto-transactions will be prohibited on the territory of the republic, obviously if this initiative with support in crypto-currencies continues.
And the participants, naturally, will receive criminal liability, as is the case now. The regime will stifle protests at all costs.

1500 EUR is a pretty big sum of money for people in Belarus where minimum wage is around 150 USD a month.

I feel like Belarus is only one of many corrupt countries in the former Soviet Union. Russia and Ukraine are pretty much the same and sending money there won't change a thing. I feel like it's another struggle between corrupt communist government and the free market revolutionists supported by the West.

They aren't sending money "there", they are sending money to individuals who suffer from oppression of their regime. They aren't giving those money to some corrupt officials. Also, no one in power in those countries is communist anymore, Putin and Lukashenko sometimes use communism to appeal to nostalgic old people, and in Ukraine the communist ideology is at least de jure banned. And the protestors aren't necessarily pro free market, if you think about laissez faire capitalism - most of them are centrist liberals who just want to be more like their western european neighbors.

Similar to what happened in HK. People from outside the country supporting the cause found a way to help those affected people through means of cryptocurrency. It can be seen as a heaven-sent solution on these dire situations but on different occasions, it can be used to support ill-intent and, well, terrorism. Anyway, Belarus is just one of those many countries that could have been great but is chained by the reins of a dictatorship that has done nothing but direct the country towards something bad.


And I think most people there would choose centrism any day than that of a failed communist regime which is being fed up to them by Lukashenko to gain the support of the masses that still believes in him.

The hard felt truth is that this type of government lead tyranny isn't happening only in countries like these but many more. HK, Venezuela, Vietnam etc. In these type of circumstances BTC and similar crypto will for sure make certain things easier but cannot replace people's freedom.

Having said that, BTC sets example of the type of economy the future leaders must think about - the outdated principles can only go this long.
It is now in peoples' powers to take control, embrace innovation and fight for their rights as a unity. BTC can help create that unity.

Thank you for explaining the current situation in the country, I hope the united majority will eventually win. All exit-polls and other social polls are banned there, but one independent poll of 50k people from all social layers of population says that the current corrupt president got up to 15% votes while the opposition candidate got up to 80%. This was even before mass arrests, beatings, rape and murders initiated by "special" police forces.

As to using BTC, it's definitely a good thing for adoption and pretty convenient way to help repressed families, but I feel like it'll soon be banned by law in some way or another

Well, it is basically about as much as you'd earn for an year of work, and that surely is helpful.

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It's awesome to hear that Bitcoin is being used as an aid in countries where living is turning into a struggle rather than a necessity. However, the categories of people meeting the requirements makes it look like the Belarus's government will turn their weapons against these guys for providing help to those they considered to be enemies. I guess that by dismissing a worker they're looking to put the said person into a bad situation to confront.

Everything is good and nice till one tiny detail which might ruin the whole thing.


Let's get over the fact that this might actually sound also like bribery but are they actually telling people to go in the open and make their opinion public and having them turned into targets for this regime? We all know they are arresting everyone suspicious, those people will be sitting ducks if the protest fails to overthrow the regime.

One more thing, as I was wondering what were they going to do with those bitcoins once received.

those who dont care about politics can easily accept the qualification requirements. because at the end of the day, can you eat your political position? i dont think so.
 and the amount is really big if you compare it to their regular min wage. i guess many people will avail this offer.
 they will swallow whatever is their political opinion and get their money to survive.

It is a sad situation that Belarusians are living with a government that exercises its power without giving it the opportunity to choose.

The protests are the reflection of the discontent of the people for the management of a tyrant ruler and the citizens do not want to lose faith to rescue their country from oppression.

Aid for Protestants in Bitcoin is a well-accomplished effort by this organization to send funds to families who have lost their means of income.

I am glad that families in Belarus are benefited with Bitcoin and learn how to use it.

It's time for the Belarusian people to shine. They truly deserve a better government.

However, with the worsening situation, does the Belarusian Solidarity Fund have wallets deep enough to be able to provide each and every qualified citizen with €1,500 one time payment in Bitcoin? How long would this assistance last? And would the government allow licensed businesses to continue operating with their goods and services priced in cryptocurrencies, thereby "bypassing fiat?"

While this looks like an insurmountable battle for the protesters as the state remains to be very powerful and still has the general control of the media and large manufacturing companies, I hope this will eventually end up in their favor.

The forklog article is in Russian if I'm not mistaken so this could be a case of wrong translation. In Bitcoin_bullish's post, it says "Publicly declare their citizenship in a video message". I don't know which one is correct.

Hehe. All the "donation" coming will all be useless if the Banks and other financial institutions stops providing liquidity to Trustee wallet.

Eugene Romanenko said about stores ready to accept bitcoin but never mentioned how many. It will probably take hundreds of stores to participate for it to be successful. If it's just a dozen, that won't be enough for me. They will be forced to closed down sooner or later because they can't replenish their stocks since they're stuck with btc.

Thanks to that NGO and they're helping their people in these hard times. Not that they're only tackling with the electoral protest and their government but also with the pandemic.

The website of Bysol is not secure as my browser tells me, you can suggest them to make the SSL secure.

About that, it is these people that are already being targetted by the regime, lost their jobs in the private/corporate sector because of their political views and actively participate in the demonstrations. It seems to be the only way to transfer funds to Belarus from a foreign country as the government has also stopped all foreign fiat entering.

Source: forklog (https://forklog.com/nko-nachala-vyplaty-v-bitkoinah-uvolennym-belorusam-i-zadumalas-o-sozdanii-paralellnoj-kriptoekonomiki/)

The translator I used gave the word citizenship. I looked at their website again and it seems they changed to filling a google form and they say they will contact the person in need and discuss the situation. They seem to also offer relocation to another city if needed and job opportunities.


I found many sources one was claiming it is 90 euro and one that it is $117 so I've written ~100. It may has to do with the exchange rates changing and reports coming from different time.
I looked the exchange rate today 1BYN=0,38USD and multiplying with 375 Belarus Ruble (which is the minimum wage) it give us $142.5 as a result. Thanks for pointing this.(I corrected the post).

This is still very interesting information. It's nice to know that the international community is supporting the protesters in Belarus with bitcoins. I do not think that dictator Lukashenko and those who still support him will have enough time and, most importantly, opportunities to block the access of cryptocurrency to the country. Money that will be transferred directly to cryptocurrency wallets cannot be tracked. The difficulty will be represented by the translation of bitcoins or other cryptocurrency into dollars or local currency. Here, the influence of administrative levers of power is quite possible.
 We will closely observe the struggle of the people against their dictator, on whose hands the blood of many of his political opponents during these 26 years in power.

The situation in Belarus is the result of a long-standing autocratic regime that relies heavily on Russian support. What’s different now is the involvement of the West doing the same thing it did with Ukraine a few years ago - all with the goal of getting Belarus out of the Russian grip. Yet it is unlikely that anything can change here without a strong internal insurgency already rooted in mass arrests, physical abuse and large numbers of those who have already fled the country.

I am glad to see that in this case Bitcoin is presented in a positive context as something that helps the oppressed, and this way of helping cannot be prevented by the authorities. But like some others, I ask if BTC can help people there, can they buy something for it or convert it into local currency?

Although it is well known that the regime has no mercy on those who protest, I am particularly fascinated by the fact that it is women who show the greatest resistance facing the violence of Lukashenko’s rabid dogs - so they deserve every help and support that can be given to them.

https://i.imgur.com/YEO4JSI.jpg
https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1303444958003769345

With this, we can see that bitcoin isn't just for investment, but also for freedom of the people from the hands of state control. If you are watching vlog created by Bald and Bankrupt, a youtube content creator, he always highlight belarus and Chernobyl, most of the people outside the capital doesn't really have an internet connection so the news is too slow. I wonder how cryptocurrency such as bitcoin could make a revolution for this people.  Aside from the protest, it was also mentioned here that belarus might also use crypto to bypass sanctions source (https://cointelegraph.com/news/can-belarus-use-crypto-to-bypass-sanctions-experts-are-skeptical)

Using bitcoin to fund a rally is not good as it would be a bad precedent in other countries. This could lead to the stricter government on bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Crypto was born for more convenient payment, not for any political purpose. I am very concerned.

How exactly is 'legally' defined here?
From the POV of the government, those protestors are a pain in the ass and helping them would be called "illegal".

Crypto is a currency, bad or good can be seen from different point of view. I'm pretty sure nobody have problems if you help people that are oppressed and live in fear due to dictatorship. Even if they ban crypto in general, P2P transaction is still possible. Instead of spending money with little results, I bet they'd rather legalize and get taxes from it.