For the past four evenings, thousands of people have been gathering at Kastrychnitskaya (Oktyabrskaya) Square in Minsk, Belarus, to protest the fraudulent presidential election, demand a new vote and support the opposition. The crowd thins as the night arrives, but a few hundred young activists stay on in a small ‘tent city’ by the huge skating rink, braving the brutal weather and trying the regime's patience. The state-owned media either ignore or misrepresent the protest, and much of the virtual discussion takes place in Belarusian LiveJournal communities. Some of these conversations are translated below. “Lukashenko to the Hague” – by Eugene Grabkin LJ user Eugene Grabkin posts his photos from the protest and is wondering in the minsk_by LJ community (RUS) whether it is somehow possible for him to get a press card: I could even provide photos later. ;) Because people are asking where I'm from and what I'm doing?.. And what if I'm from the [state-owned Belarusian TV]?..;))))) Here's a recommendation (RUS) he's received: sanitarro: Make one yourself, write PRESSA on it, minsk_by and your nickname :) it'll protect you from the people, I guess :))) though it may get the cops interested :) but do write your nickname, to avoid an entrapment where a cop gets himself a similar card, but if there's an unknown nickname on it or an unknown face over a known nickname, it's easier to sort it out :) anysyst: Yeah, write this on it: Journalist working for the largest Internet publication www.livejournal.com *** Posted by LJ user alisunya (RUS): I was there yesterday evening. I've never seen so many real People, sunny, sincere, fearless. Thank you for being the way you are!!! My friend stayed there till morning. Between 6 and 7 am, she and nine more people (2 guys and 7 girls) were going to the subway station Oktyabrskaya […]. Riot police were following them, then asked them all to go into a police room at the station. My friend and two other girls merged with the people standing in the line for subway tokens, but the rest got detained. […] *** Posted by LJ user l-u-f-t (BEL): People in the tent city […] need water and gas burners. If any of you can help, please do. It's better not to bring the stuff over, but to throw it out of the car windows. It's safer that way. THEY ARE HOLDING ON THERE FOR ALL OF US! *** Posted by LJ user aneta_spb (RUS): To Belarusian friends I'm three hours away from Minsk today and here's what I think. The only thing reaching here are the rumors of “some people rallying over there.” Not all people have Internet access, and those who do may not be in touch with those who've never seen it. My friends are intelligent people and they are against Luka[shenko], but they are pessimists and lack information. I stopped over and gave them the news – that's good; someone else would go elsewhere, too, but that's not enough. It's necessary that everyone knows about the events. If there are local activists, they should busy themselves with spreading the information. […] A discussion follows (RUS): egils: My Internet informs me that there'a a zero chance to overthrow Luka this time […]. First, there should be a prominent opposition figure to rally with and only then will it be possible to “orangize” [apelsinstvovat’, refers to Ukraine's Orange Revolution]. shavu: no, one has to rebel always. that's the only way. when you lose – continue working. and for now, nothing's been lost yet. […] the poles protested in 1954, 1968, 1970, 1980 (and this doesn't include “lesser” strikes, demonstrations and rallies) and they didn't succeed until 1989. that's the right path shown by John Paul II egils: Well, they could afford it in Poland. Because they always had mass opposition there: you throw some to jail, others will come. And who will replace them in Belarus? shavu: the new ones will come. and if they don't, it means that Lukashenko has indeed been elected by the whole people. that's it. *** Andrei Khrapavitski, a Belarusian blogger living in the United States, has translated two “Maidan stories” (RUS) and posted them on his site: [LJ user alexan3] For all day long, our food supplies were refilled by women and men, including seniors. People helped in every way they could – money, candies, medicines, tea, clothes, blankets. Especially touching was an old woman of about 65 years of age, who hardly hobbled with a walking stick, but she brought us her homemade bread and disposable plates. She handed us her gifts with tears in her eyes, saying, “Thank you, my dear, thank you. Thank you for not being afraid. We are with you. We will support you.” At this sentimental moment, I felt like crying. Such genuine kindness is keeping us warm more than some slogan shouting. People started bringing food in private autos and cabs.