Workers from state-run industrial plants joined tens of thousands of people on a fifth day of protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, despite a violent crackdown that has prompted the West to consider new sanctions.
People hold flowers during a demonstration against violence following recent protests to reject the presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus August 13, 2020. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
The protesters accuse Lukashenko of rigging last Sunday’s presidential election to win a sixth term. The president, alleging a foreign-backed plot to destabilise the country, has dismissed the demonstrators as criminals and unemployed.Some of those freed from a detention centre in Minsk had bruises and described being tightly packed inside cells and complained of mistreatment, including beatings. A spokeswoman for the interior ministry declined immediate comment.
Russia, which has nudged Lukashenko into accepting closer political and economic ties, expressed concern over what it depicted as attempts by external forces to destabilise Belarus. The 65-year-old Lukashenko has ruled for more than a quarter of a century but faces increasing anger over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic - which he dismissed as a “psychosis” - a sluggish economy and human rights.
People outside the Okrestina detention centre, some in tears, waited in the hope of gleaning news of friends and relatives inside. Police and soldiers with machine guns drove them away when they got too close.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
EU to discuss sanctions on Belarus after disputed electionBelarus' main opposition candidate has fled to Lithuania following police crackdown on protests over election results that gave incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko sixth term in office.
Weiterlesen »
Belarus women form 'lines of solidarity' against protest crackdownNearly 7,000 people have been detained and hundreds have been injured in a police clampdown on demonstrators protesting the official results of Sunday’s ballot that gave President Alexander Lukashenko 80 percent of the vote.
Weiterlesen »
Thousands stage flower protest in Belarus as EU weighs sanctionsProtesters formed human chains and marched through the streets of Belarus carrying flowers on Wednesday in anger at a crackdown by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko that has prompted the European Union to consider new sanctions against Minsk.
Weiterlesen »
EU to discuss sanctions against Belarus after disputed election, Sweden saysEU foreign ministers will meet on Friday to discuss targeted sanctions against Belarus following Sunday's contested election and subsequent violent crackdown down on protesters, Sweden's top diplomat said on Wednesday.
Weiterlesen »
Protesters keep up their defiance against 'Europe's last dictator'Hundreds throng the streets of Minsk in solidarity with protests against an election they say was rigged in favor of President Alexander Lukashenko.
Weiterlesen »