Thousands of Belarusians are soon in the second month of protests against President Alexander Lukashenko and his regime.

The protesters dress in red and white, chant slogans and sing a 33-year-old hit song from the Soviet Union.

The song is called Chotju peremen, which means "change" or "I want change", and was written by Viktor Tsoj, singer in the cult band Kino.

Soviet response to The Beatles

The group was started in the early 80's.

Rock music was virtually banned in the Soviet Union, so the band's early songs were released on self-produced cassettes and the gigs often took place in secret.

They performed in apartments or at the heating plant where Viktor Tsoj worked.

But Kino's popularity only grew.

- The songs were simple, At first they were about being young, falling in love, looking for girls, getting together and ending.

Tsoj's development as a lyricist can be compared to The Beatles: it goes from "She Loves you" to gradually becoming texts with more depth and complexity, says Åke Zimmermann Bjersby, teacher of Russian and director of studies at the Slavic Department at Stockholm University.

"Be almost apolitical"

When Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev opened the country with his glasnost and perestroika in 1985, it meant easing the tight freedom of speech and Viktor Tsoj could play more openly.

Two years later, in 1987, one of his greatest hits was released: Chotju peremen.

The song is played in the cult crime film Assa and had a huge impact.

The title "Change" may seem tickling in a strict Soviet state, but the Chotju peremen was hardly written as a rebellious protest song, says Åke Zimmermann Bjersby.

- Definitely not.

People who knew him have described Tsoj as almost apolitical.

This song was about inner change, not about political change at all.

However, 28 years old

Cinema grew enormously in the late 80's, and Viktor Tsoj's legendary status did not diminish after he died in a car accident in 1990.

Fans still make pilgrimages to his grave in St. Petersburg and in Moscow there is the so-called "Viktor Tsoj wall" where people scribble lyrics and put up pictures of their idol.

This autumn it is 30 years since Tsoj died, and the three remaining members of Kino plan to pay tribute to him with several concerts.

Åke Zimmermann Bjersby believes that the Chotju peremen have been picked up by protesters, in previous protests against Vladimir Putin and now in Belarus, says more about Viktor Tsoj's artistic qualities than about his opinions.

- That's what happens with really good songs.

They live on and people make them their own.

But if you were to ask Tsoj: "Is it okay", he would be very happy that Chotju peremen is alive and took this turn.