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Byelorussian police have fired stun grenades to disperse protesters ahead of a nationwide strike called by opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
Mrs. Tikhanovskaya, who is in exile in neighboring Lithuania, had previously presented a “people’s ultimatum” to President Alexander Lukashenko resign Sunday night, promising industrial action if that doesn’t happen.
“The regime once again showed Belarusians that force is the only thing it is capable of,” he said.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called a general strike.
“That is why tomorrow, October 26, a national strike will begin.”
Belarusians have been protesting every weekend since Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, won a presidential election on August 9.
Opposition politicians claim the vote was rigged and the president’s main opponents have either joined Tikhanovskaya in exile or been jailed.
Tens of thousands took to the streets of the capital Minsk again on Sunday.
Explosions and white smoke were seen amid the white and red flags of the opposition movement.
It was the eleventh consecutive weekend of protests in Belarus after the elections. Image: BelAPN
A dozen metro stations were closed and there were reports that internet connections on mobile phones were not working.
According to human rights group Vesna-96, at least 216 people were arrested on Sunday.
A government spokesman said an official figure would not be available until morning.
US, EU, UK and Canada all have imposed sanctions on the Lukashenko regime.
Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for more than 25 years. Photo: Tut. Of
In return, he has accused Western countries of interfering in the internal affairs of Belarus.
In a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday, Lukashenko said Belarus and Russia were ready to respond to external threats.
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