'There's no way back. The people will not forgive this'

Belarusian state TV presenter Tatyana Borodkina is into cooking, not politics.

Each morning, on Breakfast for 3, she would prepare simple recipes helped out by her two young daughters.

But last week, she announced her resignation on Facebook, declaring that she could "no longer smile out from the TV screen" after what she was sure was a crudely rigged election.

She has since had to flee the country with her children, after receiving threats.

Tatyana is one of a growing number of state media employees to publicly announce their support for change, suggesting cracks in the information system - the propaganda machine - that for 26 years has helped keep President Alexander Lukashenko in power.

On Monday, staff at the state media service Belteleradio began walking off the job, declaring the 9 August election "illegitimate" and calling for an end to media censorship. Main channels, including Belarus 1, are now broadcasting repeats.