Minsk, capital of Belarus.

Security forces dressed all in black from their helmets to their boots, blockading the city

centre. Only their eyes show through slits in their masks.

They're standing shoulder to shoulder banging trunctions

on their metal shields and facing them just meters away,

a crowd of women wrapped in white red white flags flowers in their hands

calling for the resignation of Alexander Lukashenko the man who's been in

charge for 26 years the man they's been in charge for 26 years,

the man they no longer recognize as president.

I'm Lucy Ash, and this is Belarus across the barricades on the BBC World Service, where we're exploring

the demonstrations that have held firm for month after month since August.

They've been peaceful so far despite violent suppression and mass arrests.

In the first of two programs, I want to peel off those black balaclavas and find out who the

men and some women are these forces sent onto the streets by President Lukashenko.

I should say that you might find some accounts in this

program upsetting. Listen to this recording. It's shot on a phone by a Belarusian driving through Minsk one

evening he's just a guy out in his car waiting to turn right a host of black-clad faceless men seem to spring out of nowhere.

They look like the feared Ammon, the special security forces, but they wear no badges so it's hard to be sure.

Stoy, stoit, stoit,

stop, he begs as they bang on the car.

That's the windscreen smashed in, glass crunching.

Then they drag him from the driver's seat.

...