It has been almost a month since public demonstrations began in Belarus. In an unusual scene for the country, a dozen participating towns have hosted thousands of protestors. Belarusians largely perceive themselves as tolerant and passive. However, the wave of public upheavals currently rolling across the country has dispelled that stereotype and looks to have some unexpected effects. There are seven lessons to take away from this evolving situation.
1. A tax on the unemployed triggered demonstrations.
In April 2015, a new presidential decree on preventing social dependency in Belarus foresaw a tax on staying jobless for more than six months. An …read more
Belarus Reloaded
