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Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the outskirts of the presidential palace in Minsk on Sunday, defying police crackdown on protesters and demanding the resignation of President Lukashenko.
Police used pepper spray and balloons to disperse the crowd, and dozens of people were arrested.
The protests also took place in major cities in Belarus, said a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry. The largest of these took place in Minsk, where, according to the head of the human rights organization Viasna, it attracted more than 100,000 people.
“This sea of people cannot be stopped by military equipment, water cannons, propaganda and arrests.” The majority of Belarusians want a peaceful change of government and we will not tire of demanding it, “said Maria Kolensova, head of the Coordination Council. led by the opposition to seek a dialogue with Lukashenko, 66, on the transition to power.
The protests against Lukashenko on charges of election fraud have entered their fifth week. At least four people died and hundreds more were injured in the last month since the elections.
These are demonstrations unprecedented in size and duration for the country, which has been ruled by Lukashenko since 1994.
