Abstract
This article analyzes the network structure and content of local Telegram chats in Belarus using the theoretical framework of connective action logic. Using the data collected right at the aftermath of the protests, we created a bimodal network consisting of almost 800 local chats and over 440,000 unique users. This “network of networks” featured subnetworks within the country’s regions, towns, and city districts, as well as Belarusian diaspora, with large and smaller hubs connecting parts of the network together and enabling coordination and information exchange. Content analysis of the messages shared within top-50 most popular chats demonstrate that participants discussed news, shared safety tips, and organized small-scale community-building activities. This article demonstrates the role of local Telegram chats in enabling and sustaining pro-democratic movement in Belarus and advances our understanding of digital technologies in social movements, while also pointing out its limitations in non-democratic regimes.