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The leadership in Belarus is hardening its course against protests in the country. Tens of thousands have demonstrated again in Minsk since noon. According to Russian media reports, 125 protesters have been arrested so far.
In Belarus, more than 100 people have reportedly been arrested during renewed protests against the head of state Alexander Lukashenko. Tens of thousands gathered in the streets of the capital Minsk, despite the ban on demonstrations. The police tried to prevent the demonstration announced in advance by cordoning off the Plaza de la Independencia in the center of the city. Several metro stations were also closed.
Messaging service Telegram has videos circulating showing uniformed men approaching peaceful protesters and dragging or carrying them into police vans. Reporters on the site report something similar. There are barriers everywhere and there are masked special forces in place. Water cannons were also placed. Russia’s RIA news agency reports that the police have arrested 125 people so far.
According to media reports, the arrests were accompanied by chants from the protesters. “Shame,” they yelled. Warnings from the Interior Ministry to attend the unauthorized demonstration were ignored. Due to the closure of the Plaza de la Independencia, they had to use the surrounding streets. “We continue to protest at individual locations in the city,” says a woman named Maria. She and her colleagues had previously thrown pumpkins over a parapet in the plaza. “Today is the dictator’s birthday, that is our gift,” she says. In Belarus, it is customary for a woman to give a man a pumpkin when she is not interested in him.
The sound gets sharper
The last two Sundays, hundreds of thousands took to the streets of the country to protest against “the last dictator of Europe.” The police did not intervene at the time. But the tone has sharpened in recent days, as have the measurements. Just yesterday, a women’s peace parade marched through the center of Minsk, also accompanied by special police units and waiting prisoner transports. But unlike today, it was largely about threats.
However, several journalists were prevented from doing their work, including a team from the ARD studio in Moscow. The two Russian cameramen and the Belarusian producer were detained at a police station overnight. Then his accreditation was withdrawn. The Russian employees had to leave the country and their Belarusian colleague is threatened with litigation.
Maas criticizes actions against journalists
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas criticized the approach. “If journalists are arbitrarily detained without a legal basis and prevented from doing their important work by withdrawing their work permits, that is not acceptable,” Maas said in Berlin. He called on Belarusian leaders to ensure independent reporting. Belarus is also committed to this at the international level.
Lukashenko and Putin demonstrate unity
Meanwhile, President Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin demonstrate unity and determination. During a telephone conversation, the two agreed to meet in Moscow next week. According to the Russian Presidential Office, Putin called for Lukashenko’s birthday and the two politicians agreed that relations between neighboring countries should be strengthened and cooperation should be expanded. Putin had already promised Lukashenko his support for this week’s protests and offered to send a police force to Belarus if the riots got out of control.
The protests have continued in Belarus since the presidential elections three weeks ago. Lukashenko had clearly declared himself the winner after the elections, but the opposition accuses him of electoral fraud. The 66-year-old ruled the former Soviet republic, formerly known as Belarus, in an authoritarian manner in 1994. In the current crisis, Lukashenko sought further contact with Putin after relations between politicians had previously cooled.
