MINSK/MOSCOW (BELARUS/RUSSIA) – Chants of “Step down!” thundered through the centre of the Belarus capital of Minsk as thousands thronged the streets in the biggest protest the nation has witnessed so far against the allegedly rigged election that saw incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko getting another term.
There was not much police presence in the city though Russia had promised Lukashenko to provide military support if needed. As many as 200,000 people took part in the protest. During a crackdown on protests after the election last week, at least two have died and thousands detained.
A celebratory mood pervaded the rallies as protesters waved red and white flags, which appeared in the nation after the breakup of the USSR in 1991 only to be replaced by the old Soviet version four years later by Lukashenko.
“We all want Lukashenko to step down,” said Alex, a 31-year-old worker. “For now we are asking, but we will get sick of asking.”
Critics of authoritarian Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, say the vote was rigged, a charge he denies, citing that over 80% ballots were in his favour.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin promised to send troops to Belarus if required based on a collective military agreement, adding that external pressure was mounting on Minsk.
Russia is closely watching the situation in Belarus as the country hosts pipelines carrying Russian energy exports to the West. In fact Moscow considers Minsk as a buffer zone against NATO.
Just before the protest rally, Lukashenko’s supporters gathered in central Minsk to watch him address the crowds for the first time after the election amid tightened security.
The president said there was a foreign plot to oust him and NATO tanks and aircraft had been deployed 15 minutes from the border. However, NATO denied any military deployment near Belarus and said it was watching the situation.
“NATO troops are at our gates. Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and our native Ukraine are ordering us to hold new elections,” Lukashenko said, adding that Belarus would “die as a state” if new polls were held.
“I have never betrayed you and will never do so.”
According to Russia’s RIA news agency, Belarus troops will hold drills in the western part of the country from Aug. 17-20.
Lukashenko’s rival Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who escaped to neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday, called for the “March of Freedom” through Minsk and in other towns and cities on Sunday to demand re-counting.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
