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Concerns are growing, however, over a potential information shutdown during these crucial days.

This is what happened, as per Lukashenko’s acknowledgment, during the contested 2020 presidential elections.

Belarus� President Alexander Lukashenko gestures as he delivers a speech during a rally held to support him in central Minsk, on August 16, 2020.

“We are committed to providing the people of Belarus with access to the free and unfiltered internet,” said Antonio Cesarano, Product Lead at Proton VPN.

So, what’s at stake for people in Belarus?

Belarus has, in fact, a long history of restricting or shutting down the internet.

While Lukashenko’s grip on the internet has always been strong, the 2020 election was a turning point.

The graph shows a spike in Proton VPN sign-ups in Belarus starting from January 19, 2025, ahead of Sunday’s presidential elections.

“We are committed to providing the people of Belarus with access to the free and unfiltered internet,” said Antonio Cesarano, Product Lead at Proton VPN.

But, how likely is this to happen?

According to Shakirov, everything depends on how confident the authorities in Belarus will feel.

“Our forecast is that there will be shutdowns only in case of protests or riots.

If the elections go smoothly nothing will be blocked beyond what is already blocked,” he said.

Experts believe this is a test ahead of the presidential election.

This is where a VPN comes in.

This is certainly good news for all the people in Belarus who have already downloaded their VPN app.

I recommend checking ourbest free VPNguide to get only the most secure services out there.

But you should also get a proven paid VPN," he added.

Besides censorship-resistant tools, Cesarano from Proton VPN also recommends taking some steps to further secure your communications.