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
- PoliticsŁukašenka to attend CIS summit in Turkmenistan this weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsBelarus top diplomat: anything possible in relations with WashingtonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIran’s special forces unit to join SCO counterterrorism drill in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsEU to remove businessmen Gutseriev, Šaŭcoŭ from Belarus sanctions list – reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus posts fastest agricultural growth in Russia-led bloc in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka regime adapts reprisals to maximize reach – think tankThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in January-SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPrague to issue short-term visas to families of Belarusian exilesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCatholic priest accused of high treason on trial in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus drops to fifth spot among top non-EU importers of Polish applesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuania to prioritize border security during its EU presidencyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyTwo women convicted for allegedly smuggling 53 foreigners into BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Security
- Economy
- SecurityPoland building up drone forces within 100 km of BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsViasna: 4,815 people declared political prisoners since 2020The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyBelarus announces another rise in fuel pricesThe material is available only to POZIRK+



