Women fight for Belarus′ future | All media content | DW | 23.02.2021

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Culture

Women fight for Belarus' future

For months now, women have been out on the streets in Minsk, demanding democracy. Now, an exhibition in Lithuania called "The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women" is showcasing photographs of the protests.

  • A picture from the exhibition, The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women. Many young women face policemen from the special unit of the Belarusian police. The women are wearing dresses, make-up and lipstick, and are carrying flowers.

    With flowers and earrings

    For months now, women in Belarus have been protesting for democracy and the resignation of the autocratic president, Alexander Lukashenko. Nadia, the young woman who is looking into the eyes of the policeman, spent 10 days in jail, according to a description of the image at the exhibition "The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women," in Vilnius, Lithuania.

  • A photograph from the exhibition The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women. 24-year-old Anna stands with two young women. She wears a wedding dress and veil that belong to her mother, who got married 26 years ago. Lukashenko has been president of Belarus since then. The picture was taken by photographer Nadia Buzhan.

    Decidedly feminine

    Many of the women have chosen to stress their femininity in the marches. This photograph in the exhibition shows 24-year-old Anna (l), with two other young women. Anna is wearing a wedding dress and veil that her mother wore when she got married 26 years ago. Lukashenko has been president of Belarus during that entire period. The picture was taken by photographer Nadia Buzhan.

  • A photo from the exhibition shows a woman being dragged away by the Belarussian police. The photograph was taken by Iryna Arakhouskaya.

    300 arrests in one day

    Taken on September 19, 2020, this photograph shows policemen arresting and dragging a protester away. The museum in Vilnius says that according to human rights groups, 300 people were arrested by the police on this day when the "Woman's March" took place.

  • This photo shows an elderly woman in a red pullover holding the Belarussian flag. The picture was taken by Viyaleta Sauchyts.

    Young and old

    Despite arrests and threats, women of all ages are participating in the marches. They wear white and red, the colors of Belarus. Security forces have deployed water cannons and batons against the protesters.

  • The Belarusian singer Palina stands in front of troops, wearing a red band across her mouth as a symbol of protest against police brutality. The picture was taken by Volha Shukaila.

    Forced into silence?

    The MO Museum in Vilnius is organizing the exhibition with the aim of supporting the democratic movement in the neighboring country. In a press statement, the mayor of Vilnius, Remigijus Simasius, said that the city serves as a "safe haven" for Belarussian citizens.

  • This photograph shows a woman wearing a white jacket and waving the Belarusian flag in Minsk. The picture was taken by Volha Shukaila.

    An exiled voice

    Exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition Swetlana Tichanowskaja sends her words of support. "This exhibition is dedicated to women from Belarus. We had a common goal: to bring freedom and the rule of law back to Belarus. Women are at the forefront in this struggle. Like for many other women, this struggle is a personal battle for me."

  • This picture shows a photograph projected on the outer walls of the MO museum in Vilnius. The photograph depicts a woman protester hugging a soldier in uniform. The museum is closed because of the COVID-related lockdown.

    Open exhibition despite lockdown

    Employees at Vilnius' MO museum have found a way to show pictures of the protests despite the COVID lockdown. The images are projected on the external walls of the museum so everybody can see them.

  • This image shows a photograph projected on the outer walls of the MO museum. The photograph shows two women protesters kissing under the Belarusian flag.

    A kiss for democracy

    All photographs have been taken by women journalists Nadia Buzhan, Darya Burakina, Iryna Arakhouskaya, Volha Shukaila and Viyaleta Sauchyts. In this way, the museum wants to focus on women. "Women have become the symbol of peaceful protests in Belarus. They are courageously protesting against the patriarchal and violent government."

  • This image shows a photograph being projected on the museum walls. The photograph shows an eldery woman in a red pullover holding a big flag.

    The making of the exhibition

    The exhibition can be seen everyday between 6 and 11 p.m. local time at the MO Museum in Vilnius until March 4, 2021. The photographers have also made short films in which they speak about their experience documenting the protests. These can be seen on the MO Museum'w website, which also offers a virtual tour of the exhibition.


  • A picture from the exhibition, The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women. Many young women face policemen from the special unit of the Belarusian police. The women are wearing dresses, make-up and lipstick, and are carrying flowers.

    With flowers and earrings

    For months now, women in Belarus have been protesting for democracy and the resignation of the autocratic president, Alexander Lukashenko. Nadia, the young woman who is looking into the eyes of the policeman, spent 10 days in jail, according to a description of the image at the exhibition "The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women," in Vilnius, Lithuania.

  • A photograph from the exhibition The Future of Belarus, Fueled by Women. 24-year-old Anna stands with two young women. She wears a wedding dress and veil that belong to her mother, who got married 26 years ago. Lukashenko has been president of Belarus since then. The picture was taken by photographer Nadia Buzhan.

    Decidedly feminine

    Many of the women have chosen to stress their femininity in the marches. This photograph in the exhibition shows 24-year-old Anna (l), with two other young women. Anna is wearing a wedding dress and veil that her mother wore when she got married 26 years ago. Lukashenko has been president of Belarus during that entire period. The picture was taken by photographer Nadia Buzhan.

  • A photo from the exhibition shows a woman being dragged away by the Belarussian police. The photograph was taken by Iryna Arakhouskaya.

    300 arrests in one day

    Taken on September 19, 2020, this photograph shows policemen arresting and dragging a protester away. The museum in Vilnius says that according to human rights groups, 300 people were arrested by the police on this day when the "Woman's March" took place.

  • This photo shows an elderly woman in a red pullover holding the Belarussian flag. The picture was taken by Viyaleta Sauchyts.

    Young and old

    Despite arrests and threats, women of all ages are participating in the marches. They wear white and red, the colors of Belarus. Security forces have deployed water cannons and batons against the protesters.

  • The Belarusian singer Palina stands in front of troops, wearing a red band across her mouth as a symbol of protest against police brutality. The picture was taken by Volha Shukaila.

    Forced into silence?

    The MO Museum in Vilnius is organizing the exhibition with the aim of supporting the democratic movement in the neighboring country. In a press statement, the mayor of Vilnius, Remigijus Simasius, said that the city serves as a "safe haven" for Belarussian citizens.

  • This photograph shows a woman wearing a white jacket and waving the Belarusian flag in Minsk. The picture was taken by Volha Shukaila.

    An exiled voice

    Exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition Swetlana Tichanowskaja sends her words of support. "This exhibition is dedicated to women from Belarus. We had a common goal: to bring freedom and the rule of law back to Belarus. Women are at the forefront in this struggle. Like for many other women, this struggle is a personal battle for me."

  • This picture shows a photograph projected on the outer walls of the MO museum in Vilnius. The photograph depicts a woman protester hugging a soldier in uniform. The museum is closed because of the COVID-related lockdown.

    Open exhibition despite lockdown

    Employees at Vilnius' MO museum have found a way to show pictures of the protests despite the COVID lockdown. The images are projected on the external walls of the museum so everybody can see them.

  • This image shows a photograph projected on the outer walls of the MO museum. The photograph shows two women protesters kissing under the Belarusian flag.

    A kiss for democracy

    All photographs have been taken by women journalists Nadia Buzhan, Darya Burakina, Iryna Arakhouskaya, Volha Shukaila and Viyaleta Sauchyts. In this way, the museum wants to focus on women. "Women have become the symbol of peaceful protests in Belarus. They are courageously protesting against the patriarchal and violent government."

  • This image shows a photograph being projected on the museum walls. The photograph shows an eldery woman in a red pullover holding a big flag.

    The making of the exhibition

    The exhibition can be seen everyday between 6 and 11 p.m. local time at the MO Museum in Vilnius until March 4, 2021. The photographers have also made short films in which they speak about their experience documenting the protests. These can be seen on the MO Museum'w website, which also offers a virtual tour of the exhibition.


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