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Thousands of folks have been again on the streets of Belarus’ capital on Thursday to maintain protesting towards a vote that prolonged the 26-year rule of the nation’s authoritarian chief, and towards a brutal crackdown on peaceable demonstrations.
In a number of areas of Minsk, tons of of girls fashioned lengthy “lines of solidarity,” carrying flowers and portraits of family members detained throughout protests. The human chains grew shortly, and by early afternoon crammed the principle central squares and avenues. Motorists blared horns in help.
Nearly 7,000 folks have been detained and tons of have been injured in a ruthless police clampdown on demonstrators protesting the official outcomes of Sunday’s poll that gave President Alexander Lukashenko 80% of the vote, and his high opposition challenger solely 10%. Police have cracked down in full pressure, breaking apart the protests with stun grenades, tear fuel and rubber bullets and severely beating many.
“Belarusians have seen the villainous face of this government. I argued with my husband and voted for Lukashenko. And this is what I got in the end — I can’t find my relatives in prisons,” mentioned Valentina Chailytko, 49, whose husband and son have been detained throughout protests on Sunday.
“I wonder how Lukashenko could keep ruling,” mentioned Chailytko who has been unable to search out any details about their whereabouts.
One protester died Monday in Minsk, and scores have been injured. The authorities confirmed {that a} detainee additionally died in the southeastern metropolis Gomel, however the circumstances of his loss of life weren’t instantly clear.
The brutality and scope of the police crackdown was outstanding even for Lukashenko’s iron-fisted rule. He has received the nickname of “Europe’s last dictator” in the West for his relentless suppression of dissent.
The Interior Ministry reported 700 new detentions late Wednesday and in a single day, carry the whole quantity of detainees to six,700 since Sunday. Belarus’ Investigative Committee launched a felony probe into the group of mass rioting — a cost that might carry jail phrases of as much as 15 years for these discovered responsible.
The ministry mentioned 103 cops have been injured since Sunday and 28 of them have been hospitalized. In Minsk and Baranovichi, unidentified suspects ran over site visitors policemen with their autos on Wednesday earlier than being detained.
The brutal suppression of protests drew harsh criticism in the West.
European Union international coverage chief Josep Borrell mentioned that the 27-nation bloc would assessment its relations with Belarus and think about “measures against those responsible for the observed violence, unjustified arrests and falsification of election results.”
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned the election in Belarus wasn’t free or honest and urged the federal government to chorus from violence towards peaceable protesters.
After three days of ruthless crackdown, police scaled down their response on Wednesday. In many components of Minsk, the all-female “lines of solidarity” stood unchallenged for a while earlier than police dispersed some of them with out violence. Such peaceable demonstrations swarmed the town Thursday, however police kept away from instantly dispersing them.
Lukashenko has derided the political opposition as “sheep” manipulated by international masters and vowed to proceed taking a troublesome place on protests. “The core of these so-called protesters are people with a criminal past and (those who are) currently unemployed,” he mentioned Wednesday.
This yr the financial harm attributable to the coronavirus and the president’s swaggering response to the pandemic, which he airily dismissed as “psychosis,” has fueled broad anger, serving to swell the opposition ranks and posing an unprecedented problem to Lukashenko.
Protesters on Thursday mentioned they have been undeterred by police violence. “We’re not afraid, there’s no fear,” Alla Pronich, 38, instructed The Associated Press.
“To audacious rigging (of the election), to violence, to flash-bang grenades the authorities use we respond with solidarity and a peaceful protest. It is all we have,” Pronich mentioned.
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