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
- EconomyCentral bank to set to limit money supply growth to 12 percent next yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsPoland sees drop in irregular crossings as undocumented migrants adapt tacticsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka seeks joint projects with BahrainThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: corporate debt up 27.3 percent in January-OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRetail trade growth slowing down for eight consecutive monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- EconomyReal income growth slows down to 10 percent in January-OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals continue: 1,110 dissidents remain behind bars after high-profile releasesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, PoliticsUS Treasury publishes general license authorizing Biełaruskalij transactionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRelease of hundred political prisoners insufficient step – rights groupsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, Society
- PoliticsNausėda: Lithuania supports US effort to secure release of Belarus’ prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuanian foreign minister welcomes EU’s new tools to respond to Belarus’ “malicious activities”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFrance urges Minsk to stop imposing politically-motivated prison sentencesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityReleased activists speak with Ukrainian president, Lithuanian prime ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian defense minister meets with Zimbabwean counterpart in HarareThe material is available only to POZIRK+



