Infodemic: A battle for political survival in Belarus and the seafarers left adrift by Covid-19
Welcome. We are tracking how global disinformation is shaping the world emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, how Covid-19 helped to prepare the ground for protests in Belarus and what it’s like to be a seaman during the pandemic.
Below are the latest narratives — both real and fake — that have grabbed our attention and deserve yours.
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Incredible images of protesters clashing with police have emerged from Belarus, where the incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko officially won 80% of the vote in the nation’s election. The opposition, led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, refuses to accept the results. Here’s how the pandemic shaped this historic event.
- Covid-19 has played a subtle but important role in undermining the 26-year rule of Europe’s last dictator. Earlier this year, worried about Belarus’ already failing economy, Lukashenko refused to lock down and simply denied Covid-19 was a threat.
- This had a double-whammy effect. Belarussians were left to self-organize and adopt preventive measures. Dozens of initiatives stepped in where the government had failed, helping medical workers and each other with supplies and donations. As people searched for reliable information on the virus, they turned away from state media that denied its existence and towards opposition and activist outlets. Ahead of the vote, the pandemic significantly weakened the effectiveness of Lukashenko’s state propaganda machine.
- More than 600 activists have been arrested in Belarus since May. The protests, which erupted after the government published exit polls suggesting Lukashenko’s victory, are unprecedented. Overnight, police violently dispersed demonstrations, using tear gas, flash grenades and water cannons. Shocking videos on social media show police vans driving into crowds and knocking down protesters.
- So far, Lukashenko has not made a public appearance. But in one of his most recent interviews — here it is in Russian — the president, who had tested positive for Covid-19, said he had been contaminated on purpose by someone who “planted” the virus. With protests rocking Belarus, it looks like he is entering a battle for political survival. This is a story to follow.
Singapore is seeing record numbers of dengue fever cases, and the country’s National Environmental Agency says the spike is linked to the coronavirus. In April, the state reimposed a partial lockdown, and people have been asked to work from home. The high number of individuals staying at home, authorities say, is contributing to the rise in cases, since the mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever thrive indoors.
Last week, as we researched the voyage to Beirut of the MV Rhosus and its lethal cargo, our reporter Isobel Cockerell was struck by the plight of seafarers during the pandemic. Scroll down to see what she has found.