Jailing of candidates happens every time there's an election in Belarus. Same as in Russia only total clowns are allowed to run against the anointed candidates. This is the first time Internet was cut off, IIRC.

Russia is not involved in mass protests in any way - I personally know some people who are now on the streets of Minks and they really angry at Lukashenko. BTW, Belarus also completely disabled international data roaming for all visitors, even in Iran they didn't do that.

Russia wants to "teach" Lukashenko some lessons, but "Maidan" is a curse word for Putin, probably he is having nightmares because we can have the same situation in Russia in 2024.