This does not sound like a man who will go quietly. Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko warned protesters on Monday that he would not give in to their demands for a new presidential election – unless they assassinated him.
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered over the weekend in the capital Minsk to protest the contested elections held earlier this month. Protesters are worried about proven poll-rigging and police violence in the ensuing protests, but Lukashenko has rejected any suggestion that the vote could be re-run.
“We have already held elections. “Until you kill me, there will be no other elections,” he was quoted as saying by Belarusian media during a visit to a tractor factory on Monday morning. ‘You would never expect me to do anything under pressure … She [new elections] will not happen. ”
Lukashenko revealed that he had suggested that he consider some form of constitutional reform to be part of his own power, but insisted that his hand not be forced by the protests.
The man is also known as the last dictator of Europe told told the workers that Protestants were tortured last week because they had attacked police.
When the president spoke to what he thought should be a friendly audience, the workers shouted ‘Leave’, and heckled him. Lukashenko, in the midst of an unusual public humiliation, finally told the crowd he was ready and they could scream now as he turned and stormed off the stage.
Mr Lukashenko’s remarks came after reports over the weekend that he had called on Vladimir Putin to help save his 26-year presidency. In calls to the Kremlin on Saturday and Sunday, he smirked at assurances that Russia would help with military assistance against unspecified external threats.
The Kremlin later confirmed that Moscow would help in line with its collective military pact. Putin, however, has not yet publicly supported Lukashenko, as the Russian president is apparently waiting to see how the protests and strikes unfold this week and whether Lukashenko’s position becomes completely untenable.
Kremlin watchers believe Lukashenko will remain in power, but in a reduced capacity, Putin’s favorite outcome.
The protests show no signs of slowing down. On Monday, state television staff marched in protest against censorship and the election results. A bizarre state TV show that aired early in the morning nothing but empty news desks.
The main challenger in the disputed presidential election released a new video Monday morning saying she was ready to take over the country’s leadership after the wave of protests.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who went to Lithuania after announcing the contested election results in public, only stood for election after other candidates, including her husband, were imprisoned.
According to her, ‘I did not want to become a politician. But fate decided that I would find myself at the forefront of a confrontation against arbitrary rule and injustice … I am ready to take responsibility and act as national leader during this period. “
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