Belarus slows down internet during opposition leader’s New Year’s address

January 1, Pozirk. Belarus restricted internet access five minutes before Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s New Year’s video address and lifted the restriction half an hour after it ended.
Users started experiencing problems at 11:43 p.m. YouTube and other websites run the opposition leader’s speech between 11:48 p.m. and midnight. At 0:28 a.m. the internet functioned unimpeded.
For 45 minutes, the internet speed was slow and YouTube was only accessible via VPN services.
Cichanoŭskaja dedicated her New Year’s speech to family and called for unity.
The address was viewed 100,000 times in the first 12 hours after its release on YouTube. Her last year’s address has 614,000 views and the 2022–2023 address 526,000 views.
Alaksandar Łukašenka does not have a YouTube channel. His speeches can be seen on state television and pro-government websites.
In yesterday’s address, he talked about generational change and said that the next five years of his rule will be dedicated to the quality of life.
The previous New Year’s Eve was also marked by internet access problems.
Lithuania's new foreign minister assures Cichanoŭskaja of support for pro-democracy forces
- Economy, PoliticsNausėda rules out resumption of Belarusian potash transitThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEDB: gold prices, foreign currency assets drove Belarus reserve growth in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader calls for Statkievič’s release after his reimprisonmentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, SportHigh jumper Žodzik among top six athletes rated by Polish sports expertsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolish president to meet Belarusian diaspora leadersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityPoland extends restrictions on acceptance asylum requests for another 60 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyGeorgia expels five Belarusian men in nine months of 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLate journalist Miełkazioraŭ among outstanding figures honored by United Transitional CabinetThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLuxembourg, Latvia, Norway contributed €530,000 in 2025 to help Belarusian regime's victimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus seeks resumption of direct air services with TurkmenistanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyNuclear plant’s Unit 2 reconnected to grid after planned maintenanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityOfficials discussing paramilitary role for Financial Investigations DepartmentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityCol. Iljukievič appointed as commander of Special Operations ForcesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyLithuanian border guards detained 11 wanted Belarusians in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland prevents five attempts by undocumented migrants to cross border from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsInterior ministry labels 26 as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPolish Border Guard reports four seizures of cigarettes flown in from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+



