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Tens of thousands of people protested against the government in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on Sunday, despite the police threatening to use firearms. The crowd called for the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country with a heavy hand since 1994. The Interfax news agency reported that more than 30,000 people had joined the demonstration. Around 50 protesters were arrested. According to the human rights group Wesna, there had been more than 100 arrests across the country overnight. The cellular network was disrupted in parts of the capital. In the vicinity of the demonstration, loud noises that sounded like stun grenades could be heard. Last week, police leaders said they reserved the right to use firearms against protesters.
The protests were triggered by the presidential elections on August 9, in which Lukashenko was re-elected with 80 percent of the vote, according to official information. The protesters, but also the European Union, do not recognize the election. Since then, the mass protests have not stopped, especially in Minsk. There were several strikes in Belarus, which is a close ally of Russia.
13,000 people arrested so far
Security forces in Belarus, a former Soviet republic, have so far arrested more than 13,000 people. Opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya, who has made herself safe in Lithuania, asked President Lukashenko last week to resign before October 25. Otherwise, there will be national strikes that will paralyze the country.
Kolesnikova’s lawyer is released from house arrest
It was also revealed that the lawyer for the detained protest leader Maria Kolesnikova had been released from house arrest. “The fact that Ilya Salej is at home and not in custody is good news and is the result of our peaceful pressure on the regime,” Tichanovskaya said. The protests would continue, however, until all political prisoners are free and there are new elections. (Reuters, apa, dpa)
