How did a choir become one of the symbols of the 2020 Belarus protests? In this Talk Eastern Europe Deep Dive interview, Nina Panikova speaks with Sasha from Volny Chor, the Belarusian choir that emerged after the stolen election and mass demonstrations against Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Volny Chor became famous for surprise public performances of Belarusian freedom songs in Minsk, singing in shopping centers, courtyards, and public squares while avoiding arrest. Since then, members have faced repression, imprisonment, and exile – yet they continue to perform across Europe to preserve the Belarusian identity, language, and culture.
This episode explores protest music, authoritarian repression in Belarus, the meaning of Belarusian national symbols, and how culture can become resistance.
Some examples of their music:
Volny Chor, Mahutny Boža (Almighty God): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZKpd900L-E
Volny Chor, Pahonia (Coat of arms of Belarus):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c49ZmYZhGaA
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