This is the first time that Andrei and his family and friends have decided to take to the streets of Minsk to demonstrate against the political situation in the country.

- I'm tired of Lukashenko. Everyone is. This is the first of six choices that actually seem to have a chance for change. Even people who previously voted for him are out protesting, he tells SVT News.

What is different this time?

- In all previous elections, the opposition has been very weak. This time we have a candidate (Svetlana Tichanovskaya) who offers a fair re-election. And the other opposition candidates have joined behind her. It has not happened before.

Planning to leave the country

But for Lukashenko to be forced out of the presidency, it is not enough for the opposition to unite, Andrei believes. His allies are also required to turn their backs on him.

- Some are already doing so. It now seems that the state television company, which was previously very loyal to him, will go on strike and several of the high-profile journalists are participating in the protests, he says.

Andrei doubts that the protests and the national strike will continue if nothing happens within the next week. If Lukashenko remains in power, he plans to leave the country.

- If he wins, it will result in a bloodbath. The worst thing you can do here is get involved politically. Participation in these protests can lead to long prison sentences, losing your job or being banned from leaving the country, he says. 

* Andrei is actually called something else.