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Since the criticized presidential elections on August 9 – which according to official but highly questionable figures was won by incumbent Alexander Lukashenko – the opposition has demonstrated demanding his resignation and a new election.
Also on Sunday, tens of thousands flocked to the streets and squares of the capital Minsk and other cities, as security forces mobilized, metro stations were closed, roads were blocked and mobile traffic restricted.
The opposition has called a general strike starting Monday to pressure Lukashenko, 66, who has been in power since 1994.
Several arrested
Protesters in Minsk chanted “Strike”, waved the country’s old red and white flag, which is a symbol of the opposition, and beat the drums.
According to the human rights organization Vesna, almost 160 people were arrested in Minsk during the day.
Two local journalists were arrested, among others, according to a local journalists’ organization. Dozens of protesters were arrested in the western Belarusian city of Lida, who were also hit by tear gas from security forces, reports the Russian state news agency Ria.
Opposition leader and presidential candidate Svetlana Tichanovskaya, living in exile in Lithuania, wrote in a statement that a general strike would break out on Monday unless the regime lived up to the “people’s ultimatum.”
“Today, the regime has once again demonstrated to Belarusians that violence is the only thing it is capable of,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging service on Sunday.
“For this reason, tomorrow, October 26, a national strike will begin,” he continues.
Not clear how many
But he admits it’s unclear how many will go on strike.
Many Belarusians fear threats and pressure from the authorities and fear losing their jobs, he said during a visit to Copenhagen on Friday.
-We do not organize strikes, it is up to the people to decide for themselves if they are ready or not.
The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada have imposed sanctions on the regime since the elections. Russia, on the other hand, has sided with Lukashenko.
