Internet and VPN Disruptions in Belarus Ahead of Elections

On the eve of the presidential elections in Belarus, issues with internet access and disruptions in the operation of popular VPN services have started to emerge, reports NewsBox. 

In Belarus, just days before the presidential elections, users have faced widespread interruptions in internet and VPN service availability. According to the publication "Zerkalo," connectivity problems began around 10 AM Minsk time, affecting all regions of the country.

Belarusians reported outages affecting services like Proton VPN, NordVPN, and TunnelBear. Experts suggest this could be selective blocking of servers, but they do not rule out the possibility that restrictions might extend to other popular platforms.

Additionally, residents have complained about difficulties accessing sites like Twitch, Steam, Reddit, and even "Wikipedia." These events are unfolding against the backdrop of the presidential elections set for January 26. The opposition has already declared the elections illegitimate, citing their undemocratic nature. Following the 2020 protests, most opponents of the current president, Alexander Lukashenko, have either ended up in prison or have been forced to emigrate.

One of the opposition leaders, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, has called the upcoming elections a "military operation" aimed at demonstrating the regime's power. According to her, the authorities are trying to maintain control at all costs, resorting to repressive measures.