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For the fourth consecutive weekend in Belarus there were large street protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. In the capital, Minsk, more than 100,000 people again protested the controversial results of the August 9 elections and called for Lukashenko’s resignation. There were also protest marches in other Belarusian cities such as Brest, Vitebsk and Grodno.
The center of Minsk was isolated by police in riot gear through shatterproof barriers and armored vehicles. The Russian government news agency InterfaxAccording to sources from the Belarusian Interior Ministry, said that at least 100 people were arrested throughout Belarus. Some videos posted on social media show the violence of officers wearing ski masks during the arrests. According to guardian at least one person would be transferred by ambulance.
Brutal arrests in Minsk and regions. Dozens of arrested and beaten. The police are trying to disrupt the Unity March planned for today and backed by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The authorities are trying to demonstrate power. pic.twitter.com/0Wmsc9bUXR
– Franco Viačorka (@franakviacorka) September 6, 2020
According to Daragh McDowell, an analyst at the global consultancy “Verisk Maplecroft”, interviewed by Al Jazeera, the economic conditions of Belarusians are affecting the protests. According to McDowell, the Belarusian economy would be “on the brink”. This would have led the Belarusians to “no longer be afraid of Lukashenko”, who would have lost much of his authority. Barys Goretsky from the Belarusian press association told the guardian that the protests continue even during the week, every day, with people gathering in the courtyards of the apartment buildings to challenge Lukashenko.
The protesters on Sunday, who marched with red and white flags, the color of the first flag of independent Belarus, mocked the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with banners like “Sponsor of our holiday – Putishenko,” pun intended. between the last names of the two presidents. The protesters also mocked Lukashenko for filming himself as he emerged from a helicopter with a bulletproof vest and a gun in hand.
Lukashenko is expected to meet Putin in Moscow shortly and again according to Guardian, the two often hear each other over the phone. Lukashenko, from the beginning of the protests, said that the protesters are manipulated by Western countries. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mišustin visited Minsk last week and said Belarus should not give in to “external pressure.”
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