Was Telegram a key mediator in Belarusian protest? Perspectives from the inside

Various scholars have pointed out the role of Telegram as a platform for the coordination of Belarusian protests in 2020, a source of alternative information, and a means of mobilizing the oppositional movement. This paper presents the views of protest participants, activists, and politicians, as well as editors of the leading Telegram channels on aspects of platform-mediated protest mobilization, development of collective movement, and security. Following the actors of the networks that emerged during the protest in August 2020, this is the first study of Telegram’s role in a protest movement that intimately engages with the opinions and views of actors who actively participated in protest events.