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Maxim Guchek via Getty Images
Alexander Lukashenko took office today and held the opening ceremony in great secrecy. This was reported by various Belarusian news outlets, including the Belta news agency. It is the beginning of the sixth term of the leader at the head of the country, despite vehement protests from the opposition, which challenged the elections on August 9.
The streets of the center are blocked to traffic and the presidential palace is run by the police. Lukashenko’s ‘caravan’ was filmed crossing the empty streets. According to the law, Lukashenko was due to take office on October 9. But the presidency had not communicated any official date.
The opposition has reiterated that it will never accept the result of the presidential elections and, following Lukashenko’s ceremony, called for an immediate civil disobedience campaign.
The UN human rights delegate, Anais Marín, explained last week that more than 10,000 people have been illegally detained since the day of the vote, with more than 500 cases of torture and thousands of “brutally beaten.”
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