8.4K views · 58 reactions | Belarusian opposition protesters took to the streets for the eighth consecutive day of anti-government demonstrations Sunday, demanding the departure of the country's embattled authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko's been in power since 1994 and claimed a landslide victory in a vote that gave him his sixth term in office. Russia, a traditional ally of Belarus, has said it was prepared to offer military support if needed. | CNBC | Facebook

Ales Bialiatski has worked to promote democracy and human rights in Belarus since the 1980s. He has been called a beacon of light for these efforts throughout Eastern Europe. A constitutional amendment adopted in 1996 gave President Alexander Lukashenko dictatorial powers, triggering protests and demonstrations. The authorities cracked down hard on the protests, and many people were jailed. Ales Bialiatski then founded the organisation Viasna (Spring) to provide support for the incarcerated demo