Belarus protests: Workers boo Lukashenko as election unrest spreads
17-08-2020, 18:18

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

 

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been heckled by workers on a visit to a factory as anger mounts over his disputed re-election.

Workers chanted "leave" and booed the long-time leader of the ex-Soviet state as he insisted he would not allow a new vote after allegations of ballot fraud.

Strike action spread to state TV, with staff walking out on Monday.

Opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has suggested she could act as an interim leader.

Police violence towards opposition supporters, as well as the alleged poll-rigging in the 9 August vote, fuelled a big protest rally in the capital Minsk on Sunday.

Mr Lukashenko has led Belarus since 1994, maintaining close relations with neighbouring Russia, on which Belarus heavily relies for energy supplies.

How great is the pressure on Lukashenko?

According to local, independent news site Tut.by, Sunday's opposition rally in Minsk was "the largest in the history of independent Belarus".

A wave of anger has been rising since the Central Election Commission said Mr Lukashenko had won 80.1% of the vote and Ms Tikhanovskaya - 10.12%.

Hundreds of protesters have been wounded and two have died in clashes with police over the past week. Some 6,700 people have been arrested, and many have spoken of torture at the hands of security forces.

On a visit to a Minsk tractor plant on Monday, Mr Lukashenko sought to defend his disputed victory, telling workers: "We held the election. Until you kill me, there will be no other election."

Speaking to state media, the president said any redistribution of power in Belarus should be carried out under the constitution and not through street protests. He said that work was under way to amend the current constitution.

As Mr Lukashenko spoke at the factory, workers booed him and chanted "leave".1px transparent line

Last week, workers at state-run factories walked out in solidarity with the protesters, and more strikes are planned for this week, increasing the pressure on Mr Lukashenko.

At state TV, staff walked out in protest against censorship and the election results.

Ms Tikhanovskaya, who left for Lithuania after denouncing the results, insists that where votes were properly counted, she won support ranging from 60% to 70%.

In a video message released on Monday, she said she was ready to become a "national leader" in order to restore calm and normality, freeing political prisoners and preparing for new elections.

Russian TV news bulletins have been making ominous parallels between Belarus 2020 and Ukraine 2014. Ukraine's pro-Western revolution led to Moscow sending in its special operations forces to annex Crimea and Russian military intervention in eastern Ukraine.

Six years on, could Russia's military intervene in Belarus? On paper, at least, such a move would appear counter-productive. The opposition movement in Belarus is not anti-Russia/pro-Europe - it is anti-Lukashenko. If Russia were to send in troops to shore up the Belarusian leader, it risks alienating the Belarusian people and creating anti-Moscow sentiment.

True, Moscow is determined to keep Belarus within what it sees as Russia's sphere of influence. The Kremlin's ultimate goal is deeper integration with its neighbour - a fully-fledged union state (with Vladimir Putin at the helm). It could still achieve this through political leverage.

The Kremlin has a pathological fear of "coloured revolution" on its doorstep. But Minsk 2020 is not Kyiv 2014. Belarus is not choosing between East and West. The Belarusian people are outraged by the brutality of their security forces. So much so that even Mr Lukashenko's traditional base - including the state factory workers - are deserting him.

How did Sunday's rallies play out?

Rival rallies were held in the capital, with the opposition event appearing to attract much higher numbers.

An official report said 65,000 people had attended the presidential rally but unofficial estimates were as low as 10,000. Unofficial estimates for the opposition gathering ranged between 100,000 and 220,000.

 

There were reports of state sector workers being forced to attend Mr Lukashenko's rally or face the threat of losing their jobs.

As the president spoke, the anti-Lukashenko protesters gathered for a peaceful rally near a war memorial in the centre of Minsk.

A number of officials, as well as current and former police officers, have resigned.

The Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia, Igor Leshchenya, declared his solidarity with the protesters. He told the BBC: "I represent Belarus and the Belarusian people, which according to our constitution is the only source of power."

What's happening internationally?

EU leaders are to hold an emergency video summit on Wednesday. EU foreign ministers agreed last week to prepare new sanctions against Belarusian officials responsible for "violence, repression and the falsification of election results".

The UK said on Monday it did not accept the results of the "fraudulent" election.

"The world has watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent presidential election," said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in a statement. "The UK does not accept the results."

The US has condemned the election as "not free and fair".

President Lukashenko has sought Russian help, saying President Vladimir Putin has promised to provide comprehensive assistance in the event of any external military threat.

In a conversation on Sunday, the two men discussed "the situation in Belarus, taking into consideration the pressure the republic was being put under from outside", the Kremlin said.

 

BBC

 

Comments: 136
#36   Tyrone
      
was ist hgh bodybuilding

References:


hgh and test cycle (https://skubi-du.online/user/strawbass01/)
5 November 2025 13:12
#35   Rena
      
how much hgh to take a day for bodybuilding

References:


trt vs hgh (clicgo.ru)
5 November 2025 12:30
#34   Juliet
      
hgh booster

References:


how many ml of hgh per day (fprints.com.ua)
5 November 2025 11:03
#33   Jed
      
hgh 4 iu per day

References:


hgh and testosterone (https://apunto.it/user/profile/347425)
5 November 2025 09:09
#32   Lynn
      
1 iu hgh per day results

References:


sytropin hgh reviews (https://hedge.fachschaft.informatik.uni-kl.de)
5 November 2025 08:07
#31   Justin
      
2 iu hgh per day results

References:


testosterone vs hgh bodybuilding (rfserial.online)
5 November 2025 02:32
#30   Naomi
      
2 einheiten hgh am tag

References:


benefits of hgh bodybuilding (http://lideritv.ge/user/guitarvault44/)
5 November 2025 00:04
#29   Milla
      
protocole hgh bodybuilding

References:


hgh before and after pictures (gpsites.stream)
4 November 2025 22:41
#28   Willis
      
testosterone vs hgh bodybuilding

References:


hgh preis pro einheit - csmouse.com,
3 November 2025 13:00
#27   Franklin
      
hgh dosage for men

References:


how To take hgh for bodybuilding - musicvideo80.com -
3 November 2025 09:23
#26   Blake
      
is hgh bad

References:


testosterone hgh cycle (http://lineage2.hys.cz)
3 November 2025 00:19
#25   Audrey
      
hgh kur wie lange

References:


Hgh Results Before And After (Https://Clicgo.Ru/)
2 November 2025 23:33
#24   Garnet
      
negatives bodybuilding

References:


10xhire.io
28 October 2025 17:46
#23   Patti
      
how steroids affect your body

References:


www.feiko.cn
28 October 2025 05:50
#22   Celsa
      
legalroids.me

References:


afromonsta.com
28 October 2025 04:31
#21   Meri
      
anabolic mass gainer side effects

References:


study-cbm.earnappex.com
25 October 2025 04:07
#20   Jamison
      
post cycle therapy for dianabol


https://www.vadio.com/@xrskatherin404?page=about https://www.vadio.com/@xrskatherin404?page=about


https://karnena.com/corazonostrand karnena.com


https://music.birbhum.in/tyronerxj16176 music.birbhum.in


https://git.aelhost.com/hudsonrivers4 git.aelhost.com


http://gitea.mintelcn.com/marcykopsen03/marcy1987/wiki/Haemoctin%C2%AE-SDH-250-%
E2%80%93-500-%E2%80%93-1000 http://gitea.mintelcn.com/marcykopsen03/marcy1987/wiki/Haemoctin®-SDH-250-–-5
00-–-1000


https://blog.fuzongyao.cn/elviramitford blog.fuzongyao.cn


https://git.hexdive.com/adolphx853386 https://git.hexdive.com/


https://supardating.com/@cathleenschlem supardating.com


https://gitea.alaindee.net/roseannawinkle https://gitea.alaindee.net/roseannawinkle


https://afritunes.net/libbyvenn06202 https://afritunes.net/


http://test-www.writebug.com:3000/janinemackie76 test-www.writebug.com


https://git.51aspx.com/tdbkai66481075 git.51aspx.com


https://gitea.freeyoursystem.de/chadwhiting186 gitea.freeyoursystem.de


https://git.fhlz.top/lindsey11u8354/8688656/wiki/Jedes-Kind-verdient-die-M%C3%B6
glichkeit-zur-wahren-Gr%C3%B6%C3%9Fe-%E2%80%93-Kinder--und-Jugendgyn%C3%A4kologi
e git.fhlz.top


https://healedonly.com/@alvaromccready https://healedonly.com


https://ste-van.de/galen817072367 https://ste-van.de/


https://kingpeter.ewsstagging.com/kassiecounsel8 https://kingpeter.ewsstagging.com/kassiecounsel8


http://tfjiang.cn:32773/toshan24009586 tfjiang.cn

References:


itimez.com
22 October 2025 22:27
#19   Miles
      
steroid chemical structure

References:


git.ism-dev.net
22 October 2025 21:03
#18   Audry
      
test and dianabol cycle


https://tubevieu.com/@lavinamalizia9?page=about tubevieu.com


https://git.droenska.com/donettelumpkin git.droenska.com


https://filuv.bnkode.com/@marshaboyles92 filuv.bnkode.com


http://gitea.wholelove.com.tw:3000/xlugeorgina30 http://gitea.wholelove.com.tw


https://matchmingle.fun/@sibyllauterbac matchmingle.fun


https://git.fasteur.cn/judsonmcdaniel git.fasteur.cn


https://git.fhlz.top/ameliebroughto git.fhlz.top


https://forge.coreymclark.com/abmlesli186611 forge.coreymclark.com


https://git.powerdata.dk/isabellmacartn https://git.powerdata.dk


https://gitea.sosaley.in/juliabedford64 https://gitea.sosaley.in


https://hanyunmedical.com/gita99k5778726 hanyunmedical.com


https://gitiplay.com/@leoramahomet02?page=about https://gitiplay.com/@leoramahomet02?page=about


https://git.westeros.fr/derrickchristi/8308875/wiki/Somatotropes+Hormon git.westeros.fr


https://grafana.jasonstolle.com/nidaahmad60406 https://grafana.jasonstolle.com/nidaahmad60406


https://www.aservicehost.ru/abbey72u09253 https://www.aservicehost.ru/abbey72u09253


http://hoenking.cn:3000/sherrydunaway5 http://hoenking.cn:3000/sherrydunaway5


https://git.unitsoft.io/kelley93w10859 git.unitsoft.io


https://git.nusaerp.com/melinacordell https://git.nusaerp.com

References:


http://yin520.cn:3000/sabine15y39851
22 October 2025 13:17
#17   Holley
      
sustanon dianabol cycle


https://lensez.info/reinaldogriggs https://lensez.info/reinaldogriggs


https://gitea.codedbycaleb.com/albawysocki44 gitea.codedbycaleb.com


https://music.drepic.com/gradyrembert63 music.drepic.com


https://matchmingle.fun/@venettasanmigu matchmingle.fun


https://git.dadunode.com/meganshore525 https://git.dadunode.com/


https://isugar-dating.com/@wade99o6855331 isugar-dating.com


https://play.talkdrove.cc.nf/@dpvsusie03355?page=about play.talkdrove.cc.nf


https://git.fasteur.cn/rosalina04r238 git.fasteur.cn


https://daterondetjolie.fr/@kurtblack7226 https://daterondetjolie.fr/@kurtblack7226


http://git.jishutao.com/mikki42p35913 git.jishutao.com


https://qabeelah.com/@deenasteigrad?page=about qabeelah.com


https://app.fitlove.app/@ardenpiper6275 app.fitlove.app


https://blackvision.co.uk/@ianmceachern12?page=about blackvision.co.uk


http://gitea.wholelove.com.tw:3000/rexhartford519/onlinejob.lk7931/wiki/Verwendu
ng-von-Wachstumshormon%2C-IGF-I-und-Insulin-zu-anabolen-Zwecken%3A-pharmakologis
ches-Fundament%2C-Detektionsmethoden-und-Nebenwirkungen http://gitea.wholelove.com.tw:3000/rexhartford519/onlinejob.lk7931/wiki/Verwendu
ng-von-Wachstumshormon,-IGF-I-und-Insulin-zu-anabolen-Zwecken:-pharmakologisches
-Fundament,-Detektionsmethoden-und-Nebenwirkungen


https://music.magic-pics.tk/jerroldcranwel https://music.magic-pics.tk


https://git.fhlz.top/vandallachy447 git.fhlz.top


https://orailo.com/@nickj112836016 https://orailo.com


https://git.alexerdei.co.uk/noeliaskemp01 git.alexerdei.co.uk

References:


thefusionflix.com
22 October 2025 11:21
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *


Back1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next