Demonstrations in Belarus – tens of thousands protest against Lukashenko – more than 160 arrests – News

• In Belarus (Belarus) tens of thousands of people are protesting again in the capital, Minsk.
• Despite urgent warnings from the government not to rally against President Lukashenko again, the protests spread across the country.
• More than 165 protesters were arrested.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Minsk despite rainy weather for the fourth Sunday in a row. They protest with the historic white-red-white national flag: they are the colors of the opposition. They shouted slogans such as “Long live Belarus!”

In larger groups they moved towards the center of the city to the Palace of Independence, the seat of the President. But the Plaza de la Independencia was completely sealed off with metal bars.

Protests for 28 days

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The protests have been going on for exactly four weeks, since the controversial presidential election on August 9. The democratic movement demands the resignation of Lukashenko, new elections and the release of political prisoners. Lukashenko had confirmed himself for a sixth term with 80.1 percent of the vote. Critics call him the “last dictator in Europe”.

The security forces were there with a large contingent and blocked the passage of the protesters with barricades and barbed wire. Uniformed men lined up with protective shields.

The videos and photos showed how the security forces repressed the protesters and dragged them onto the police buses. They took the men in particular. The Wesna Center for Human Rights spoke of more than 165 arrests across the country.

Belarusian authorities have arrested at least 100 protesters across the country, reports the Russian news agency Interfax, citing the Belarusian Interior Ministry.

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There were also protests against authoritarian President Lukashenko in other cities of Belarus. Videos in the city of Grodno, on the border with Poland, showed how uniformed men broke into a group of protesters and dispersed people. Tear gas was also said to have been used, according to reports close to the opposition on the Telegram messaging service.