Czech Senate flies Belarusian flag to mark 2020 presidential election

The Czech Senate has again flown the historic Belarusian flag to mark the 2020 presidential election in Belarus. Senate President Miloš Vystrčil said the gesture was meant to show support for those fighting for a free and democratic Belarus.

International observers described the 2020 election as neither free nor fair. Authorities declared Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, the winner. The opposition rejected the result and mass protests broke out, but they were brutally suppressed by the regime.

The historic white-red-white flag has become a symbol of the Belarusian opposition, although it is not officially used by the current regime. The Senate first flew it in August 2020 and has done so several times since.