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- In Belarus, more than 100,000 people demonstrated against the government of President Alexander Lukashenko.
- They demand the release of all political prisoners.
- Lukashenko’s power apparatus used the army and various armored vehicles to deter the people.
Water cannons were also used in Minsk, authorities confirmed and can be seen on video recordings. Uniformed people wearing ski masks and without identification markings once again brutalized the peaceful protesters in the unauthorized demonstration.
Even at the beginning of the traditional evening demonstration, there were numerous arrests, including journalists. This time the protest was dedicated to the country’s political prisoners. People called for the release of the detainees. There were also actions in other cities of the country.
Police armed with helmets and batons blocked the streets of central Minsk.
Reuters
Civil rights activist Svetlana Tichanowskaja, who from the perspective of the democratic movement is the real winner of the presidential elections on August 9, calls for mass protests from her exile. Despite unprecedented pressure with arrests and a strong contingent of emergency services, the power apparatus fails to break the people’s desire for freedom.
At the same time, he complained that there was another “victim of the regime”, Lukashenko. Authorities confirmed that a 41-year-old man died in prison. According to official information, he fell from a bunk and suffered fatal injuries.
On the other hand, Tichanovskaya accused the authorities of “lying”. Doctors found a cracked skull, broken ribs and bruises, and other injuries on the man’s body, he said.
More than 10,000 arrests since August
Since the controversial presidential elections in early August, people have regularly taken to the streets against Lukashenko. The 66-year-old had reportedly received 80.1 percent of the vote for a sixth term.
The EU does not recognize the outcome of the elections. Human rights activists accuse the power apparatus of crimes against humanity. There have already been several deaths, hundreds of injuries and more than 10,000 arrests.
