Belarus pensioners attend a rally to protest against the presidential election results in Minsk, on November 16, 2020. – Thousands took to the streets of the Belarusian capital Minsk on November 15, 2020, the latest of three months of demonstrations against the re-election of strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko in August.
Opponents of 66-year-old Lukashenko, who has been in power for more than two decades, say the election was rigged and insist political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was the true winner of the polls. (Photo by Stringer / AFP)
More than 700 people were jailed following latest anti-government protests in Belarus, the interior ministry said on Monday, as anger mounted over the recent death of a protester.
Thousands took to the streets of the Belarusian capital Minsk on Sunday, the latest of three months of demonstrations against the re-election of strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko in August.
Opponents of 66-year-old Lukashenko, who has been in power for more than two decades, say the election was rigged and insist political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was the true winner of the polls.
The Belarusian interior ministry said Monday that more than 700 people were taken into pre-trial detention for “breaching the laws on mass gatherings”.
The human rights group Viasna for its part reported that at least 1,200 people were detained on Sunday.
During Sunday’s protests armed police dispersed the crowds using tear gas and stun grenades and deployed water cannon.
Tikhanovskaya, who was granted shelter in EU member Lithuania shortly after the election, said on Monday she met with ambassadors of several Western countries to discuss further sanctions on Lukashenko’s regime due to the “evident escalation of violence”.
In a statement on Telegram, she added that new sanctions could be expected “this week.”
The European Union has slapped sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies, citing election fraud and a violent crackdown on protesters.
Thousands took to the streets of Minsk last Friday to mourn the death of 31-year-old protester Roman Bondarenko who was pronounced dead a day after police arrested him.
Several people have died since protests erupted in August and the EU warned last week that Bondarenko’s death could result in further sanctions.
A number of Western leaders have backed Tikhanovskaya and refused to recognise the results of the Belarus polls.
Moscow-backed Lukashenko has refused to step down and instead proposed reforms to the constitution.
