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: 167
#7   Orlando
      
dianabol cycle only


http://www.annunciogratis.net/author/eventswan9 dianabol cycle results


https://lovebookmark.date/story.php?title=turinabol-vs-anavar-which-is-the-highe
r-steroid best dianabol Cycle


https://enregistre-le.site/item/403399 post Cycle therapy for Dianabol


https://aryba.kg/user/sortpoland5/ dianabol stack cycle


http://king-wifi.win//index.php?title=pingflute20 dianabol 10mg cycle


https://www.udrpsearch.com/user/libralinen0 dianabol
cycle benefits


https://prpack.ru/user/blowback28/ dianabol test cycle


https://www.24propertyinspain.com/user/profile/1151980 valley.md


https://graph.org/Oral-Turinabol-Tbol-An-Overview-08-09 dianabol stack cycle


https://graph.org/Deca-Durabolin-Cycle-Stacks-Results--Unwanted-Effects-08-09 Post cycle therapy for
dianabol


http://historydb.date/index.php?title=nestgirl29 valley.md


https://a-taxi.com.ua/user/woundyarn8/ dianabol beginner cycle


https://bookmarking.stream/story.php?title=post-cycle-therapy-pct-an-summary dianabol stack cycle


https://gaiaathome.eu/gaiaathome/show_user.php?userid=1501936 valley.md


https://mes-favoris.site/item/404650 test e and dianabol cycle


https://yogaasanas.science/wiki/Whats_Dianabol_Dbol_Cycles_Positive_Aspects valley.md


https://enouvelles.space/item/403270 What to take after dianabol Cycle


https://play.ntop.tv/user/circlewasp75/ what to take after dianabol cycle

References:


dianabol injection cycle
14 October 2025 04:07
#6   Jeana
      
beginner dianabol cycle


http://www.annunciogratis.net/author/tunegrass44 www.annunciogratis.net


https://www.faax.org/author/loveepoxy31/ www.faax.org


https://marshallcountyalabamademocraticparty.com/author/corntailor70/ https://marshallcountyalabamademocraticparty.com/author/corntailor70


https://xn----7sbarohhk4a0dxb3c.xn--p1ai/user/botanyleaf21/ --7sbarohhk4a0dxb3c.рф


https://a-taxi.com.ua/user/bucketgrass42/ a-taxi.com.ua


https://autovin-info.com/user/quailbook81/ autovin-info.com


https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/show_user.php?userid=13247188 setiathome.berkeley.edu


https://may22.ru/user/trainstone71/ may22.ru


https://rentry.co/vmnztfyd rentry.co


http://pattern-wiki.win/index.php?title=smallfrye7376 http://pattern-wiki.win/index.php?title=smallfrye7376


https://urlscan.io/result/0199c3ab-223e-7769-a6cf-4ca938306b32/ https://urlscan.io


https://urlscan.io/result/0199c3a2-4851-74ee-9be5-5c24a34d4544/ https://urlscan.io


https://telegra.ph/The-D-BOL-and-Testosterone-Cycle-A-Comprehensive-Guide-10-08 https://telegra.ph/The-D-BOL-and-Testosterone-Cycle-A-Comprehensive-Guide-10-08


https://www.google.gr/url?q=https://www.valley.md/dianabol-before-and-after-resu
lts-you-can-expect www.google.gr


https://telegra.ph/First-Cycle-Test-E-Testosterone-Enanthate-10-08 telegra.ph


https://xn----7sbarohhk4a0dxb3c.xn--p1ai/user/grapearies5/ --7sbarohhk4a0dxb3c.рф


https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/R0RwRp https://www.bitsdujour.com


https://images.google.as/url?q=https://www.valley.md/dianabol-before-and-after-r
esults-you-can-expect https://images.google.as/url?q=https://www.valley.md/dianabol-before-and-after-r
esults-you-can-expect
12 October 2025 13:07
#5   Dillon
      
muscle building supplements gnc

References:


play.ntop.tv
10 October 2025 08:24
#4   Alica
      
first time steroid cycle

References:


https://jobs.foodtechconnect.com/
10 October 2025 07:52
#3   Connor
      
how to get steroids from the doctor

References:


git.ezmuze.co.uk
10 October 2025 07:24
#2   Sallie
      
winstrol and dianabol cycle


https://git.nassas.com/jamaal53806770 valley.md


https://git.huwhy.cn/viygeorgiana67 dianabol and testosterone cycle


https://supardating.com/@marlyslowry949 dianabol only cycle reddit


https://git.bigtravelchat.com/alton725782773 first dianabol cycle


http://nas.killf.info:9966/kendracrotty81/what-do-anabolic-steroids-do-when-take
n-as-medication2016/wiki/Dianabol+Dbol+Cycle%253A+Dosage%252C+Stacking%252C+Resu
lts%252C+And+Safety+Guide dianabol stack cycle


https://www.nenboy.com:29283/orteulalia092 injectable
dianabol cycle


https://git.jamieede.com/celinajdt35150 dianabol injection cycle


https://inmessage.site/@darciesmond406 what to take after
dianabol cycle


https://tunelifystream.com/elmerkitchens9 dianabol
testosterone cycle


https://git.louislabs.com/estelaweatherb valley.Md


https://code.ioms.cc/josetteprieur dianabol Oral cycle


https://heylloow.com/@raymickle08364 Test Deca Dianabol Cycle


http://dev-gitlab.dev.sww.com.cn/isidrox886971 How To Cycle Dianabol


http://rm.runfox.com/gitlab/brandiewhyte03 anavar and dianabol Cycle


https://git.ajattix.org/lynenticknap7 Dianabol 10mg cycle


https://www.simpra.org:3000/vickie40y2992 dianabol stack cycle


https://forum.petstory.ge/read-blog/30568_full-recovery-may-be-possible-among-me
n-who-use-steroids-for-muscle-growth.html dianabol cycle length


http://git.chilidoginteractive.com:3000/georginasims2 dianabol beginner
cycle

References:


10Mg Dianabol Cycle
8 October 2025 02:13
#1   Rita
      
steroid first cycle

References:


images.google.bi
7 October 2025 06:45
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 8 9 Next