Hundreds of young Belarusians lined up for hours in front of their country’s embassy in Kyiv to cast their vote in the Belarusian presidential election on Aug. 9. Many were first-time voters who had previously ignored the authoritarian country’s fraudulent elections.
But this year is different. The Belarusian opposition has united behind an unlikely candidate, homemaker Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who entered the race after her husband, blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, was jailed and prevented from running for president. Tikhanovskaya has now become the biggest challenge to incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko in the 26 years that he has clung to power.
Across Belarus, tens of thousands of people came out to protest for Tikhanovskaya. Few believe the presidential vote will be fair, but they are ready to make their voices heard.
That political awakening isn’t confined to Belarus. In Kyiv, crowds of Belarusians attempted to vote in the election. Most, however, we not able to, as the line moved slowly and the Belarusian Embassy closed its doors before they could cast their ballots.
People also gathered for a protest in central Kyiv and marched to the embassy to support democracy in Belarus.
Read More: Belarusians in Kyiv wait hours to vote, hope for change at home
