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Belarusian police used water cannons on Wednesday night against thousands of protesters gathered in central Minsk after Alexander Lukashenko, facing an unprecedented protest, was sworn in for his sixth term as president, Agerpres reports.
UPDATE at 24:00. Despite the intervention in force, the protesters do not give up. I’ve been on the street for more than 12 hours. Au blocked the capital’s main roads and refused to leave. Dozens of people were arrested. Belarus has been on stage for 56 days the largest protests in the history of the country. People are mobilizing to go on a general strike on Thursday and Friday.
Several people were injured when water cannons were fired. Interestingly, the water used against the protesters is colored, has an orange-rust color, according to photos sent by news agencies at the scene.
Law enforcement began to disperse thousands of people on a boulevard in central Minsk and made dozens of arrests using force. Police in riot gear stormed a demonstration on Friday, taking hundreds of protesters away by truck.
Then the crowd gathered in front of a funeral star, in memory of the dead of World War II.
Thousands of people took to the streets on Wednesday carrying red and white opposition flags as cars honked their horns. Many protesters wore crowns on their heads, alluding to President Lukashenko’s oath.
“We didn’t choose you!”, “You didn’t start your term, you just became senile!” and “If you have 80%, why are you afraid of us?” – were some of the messages on the banners waved by the protesters.
Ignoring calls to step down from power after 26 years, Alexander Lukashenko was secretly sworn in on Wednesday for a sixth term.
He claimed victory with more than 80% of the votes in the presidential elections on August 9, which according to the opposition were disappointed.
From the point of view of the opponents and the independent press, this ceremony, which was to take place on October 9, was held in secret so as not to act as a catalyst for a new large demonstration.
European states have denounced Alexander Lukashenko’s obstinacy to remain in power, and Berlin has said it “does not recognize him” due to a lack of “democratic legitimacy.”
Editor: Luana Pavaluca
