“Startups are not born in an atmosphere of fear.” Employees of Belarusian IT companies called for an end to the dispersal of peaceful protests and for holding new elections

Leaders, employees and investors of Belarusian IT companies wrote an open letter calling on the authorities to stop violence against civilians, release all those detained during the protests and hold new presidential elections in Belarus, as well as ensure free access to information in the country.

At the time of writing the Meduza news, the letter was signed by more than 500 people, including more than 170 employees of Game Stream (World of Tanks project).

Employees of IT companies suggest that the election results were rigged. They also said the protests were being dispersed with "inadequate use of force".

“We are not experts in politics, but we are experts in technology business. Conditions are being formed in the country in which technological business will not be able to function. Startups are not born in an atmosphere of fear and violence. Startups are born in an atmosphere of freedom and openness,” the letter says.

The authors of the letter warned that Belarus risks facing a massive outflow of IT professionals, a reduction in investment in the technology sector and a slowdown in its growth.

• The IT industry is one of the most developed in Belarus. Since 2005, the High-Tech Park has been operating in the country, the residents of which, in particular, enjoy tax benefits. In 2017, . a decree “On the Development of the Digital Economy” was signed, which was called revolutionary: for example, it legalized cryptocurrencies, introduced institutions of English law that are not provided for by Belarusian legislation, and facilitated the visa regime for foreign IT specialists