The Belarus authorities are now punishing not only those who fly the opposition red-and-white flag but even people sporting socks in those colours. A

Why wearing the wrong socks is risky in Belarus

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2021-05-25 08:00:07

The Belarus authorities are now punishing not only those who fly the opposition red-and-white flag but even people sporting socks in those colours.

A woman on her way to a driving lesson was grabbed by four men in black balaclavas in the capital Minsk. They told her she was dressed improperly.

The Soviet Communists replaced it with a red-and-green flag, including the hammer and sickle symbol and a traditional folk motif. That flag was reintroduced by President Alexander Lukashenko in 1995 - after the fall of communism - but minus the hammer and sickle.

She was prosecuted under laws banning unauthorised protests. Her offending socks and red trainers were easy to see as she was wearing short jeans at the time.

The internet shop where she bought the socks has now stopped selling them - it does however sell similar white socks with black stripes.

Tens of thousands of protesters thronged Minsk for months last year, furious at President Lukashenko for claiming re-election in an August vote widely condemned as rigged.

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