The first protests in 2021 are taking place in Minsk. Video / GORDON

Since August 9, massive protests by those who disagree with the results of the presidential elections have continued in Belarus. According to official data, the victory in them was obtained at that time by the head of state, Lukashenka, for whom 80.1% of the voters voted (he has led the country since 1994). The second place with 10.1% of the votes was held by the Belarusian opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. At the same time, alternative exit polls showed the opposite picture: Tikhanovskaya’s confident victory.

The Belarusian security forces violently dispersed the demonstrations using explosions, rubber bullets and water cannons. During the protests, hundreds of protesters were injured and wounded. According to official figures, four protesters died.

Tikhanovskaya stated on November 28 that eight people had died during protests in Belarus.

Lukashenka has repeatedly accused neighboring countries of participating in the protests in Belarus, in particular Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. They have repeatedly denied participation in the rallies.

Lukashenka assumed the presidency on September 23, he believes. For the first time in the history of Belarus, the opening ceremony was not announced or broadcast on television. Several states, including the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Denmark, Ukraine and the Czech Republic, did not recognize Lukashenko’s inauguration.

On October 2, the European Union imposed restrictive measures against 40 people responsible for falsifying the results of the presidential elections and forcibly suppressing peaceful protests. On November 6, the EU imposed sanctions against Lukashenka and 14 other Belarusian officials. Ukraine joined the sanctions. On December 17, the EU introduced the third package of sanctions against Belarus; the restrictive measures affected 29 people and seven organizations.

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