Women post photos of legs to support tights model jailed in Belarus
Women post photos of their legs in stockings to support tights model jailed for protesting against re-election of President Lukashenko in Belarus
- Former Miss Belarus Olga Khizinkova was convicted last month after protesting
- There have been constant demonstrations in Minsk since rigged August election
- Now women are taking fight for justice online in solidarity with the tights model
- Social media is flooded with women’s legs as Ms Khizinkova, 34, remains jailed
Women are posting photos of their legs in stockings to support a tights model who was jailed for protesting against the re-election of President Lukashenko in Belarus.
Former Miss Belarus Olga Khizinkova was arrested last month after taking part in huge ‘unauthorised’ demonstrations in Minsk.
Female protesters are now flooding social media with photos of their legs beside packets of the tights modelled by the 34-year-old, many tying patriotic red and white sashes around their thighs.
Ms Khizinkova is among hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who have taken part in sustained protests against strongman Lukashenko’s re-election in August, which international experts believe was rigged.
Former Miss Belarus Olga Khizinkova, 34, was jailed in November for attending a protest against the reelection of President Lukashenko
Female protesters are flooding social media with photos of their legs beside packets of the tights modelled by the 34-year-old, many tying patriotic red and white sashes around their thighs
Furious protesters have taken to social media in a ‘solidarity flash mob’ to raise attention to Ms Khizinkova’s plight
The crackdown on demonstrators has been brutal, with reports of torture and extrajudicial killings by the security services.
Ms Khizinkova, crowned Miss Belarus in 2008, was seized on November 8 for her involvement in a massive anti-government rally the Belarus authorities called an ‘unauthorised protest’.
She had been due for release last Friday, but her family – who were waiting outside the jail – said that another nine days had inexplicably been added to her sentence.
Protesters use their legs as symbols to protest against the jailing of Ms Khizinkova
Many of the photos shared on social media show women posing alongside packages of stockings featuring the model
Now furious protesters have taken to social media in a ‘solidarity flash mob’ to raise attention to her plight.
The initiative is reported to have been inspired by Conte tights seemingly replacing Khizinkova in their ads with Belarusian athlete Laysan Utyasheva.
Posting photos of themselves wearing tights and stocking alongside the hashtag ‘I am Olga Khizinkova’, the organisers said: ‘We are launching a solidarity flash mob.
‘Almost every woman has a package of tights at home, which is adorned with a photo of Olga, but does everyone know what is happening to her?’
The protesters are posting photos of themselves wearing tights and stocking alongside the hashtag ‘I am Olga Khizinkova’
Ms Khizinkova, crowned Miss Belarus in 2008, was seized on November 8 for her involvement in a massive anti-government rally
One photo shows a pair of fishnets in high heels and a chain resting on a banned red and white Belarusian flag
One photo shows a pair of fishnets in high heels and a chain resting on a banned red and white Belarusian flag used by the opposition alongside the caption: ‘Where a human life was worth nothing and could be ruined in a moment to please a flawed system.’
Others show legs in tights alongside photos of Khizinkova posing for the brand with one saying: ‘Girls, if you buy Conte tights, then on the packaging you are used to seeing a beautiful slender blonde with long legs. This is Olga Khizhinkova, ‘Miss Belarus – 2008’.
The company has now been flooded with complaints from outraged customers.
One said: ‘Have you replaced Khizhinkova? Not ashamed? I won’t buy your products anymore!’
Many show legs in tights alongside photos of Khizinkova posing for the brand
The model had been due for release last Friday, but her family – who were waiting outside the jail – said that another nine days had inexplicably been added to her sentence
Another said: ‘On principle, I will spend my money in other stores so as not to support the company that so easily replaced Olga Khizhinkova while she is in prison for nothing.’
Defending herself against the criticism, gymnast Utyasheva said: ‘I really wasn’t aware of the whole situation.
‘I am not the face of the Conte tights brand and I haven’t been one before, it was a single action. There is no talk of any contract!’
A spokesperson for Conte tights told local media that Khizhinkova has not officially collaborated with their brand for two years.
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