Belarus’ president inaugurated amid massive protests

MOSCOW — Unrest erupted once again on the streets of the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Wednesday after a swearing-in ceremony that reinstalled longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko as president.

Videos seen by dpa showed security forces positioning themselves on the streets, pushing crowds back and driving groups apart.

Police used water cannon on the crowd in the city center and there were a number of injuries and arrests reported, though no further details were available.

The latest protest followed the swearing-in of Lukashenko in a previously unannounced ceremony in Minsk following a disputed election that has incited daily protests.

Lukashenko, 66, has led Belarus, a former Soviet republic between Russia and EU member state Poland, for more than a quarter century, tolerating little dissent.

Lukashenko declared during his inauguration in Minsk’s Palace of Independence that the country had averted an attempt at revolution instigated from “nefariously sophisticated” foreign powers.

“An unprecedented challenge was made against our statehood,” Lukashenko said, according to an official transcript. “The color revolution did not take place,” he said, using a broad term for a political pivot in a former Soviet state.

Electoral authorities say that Lukashenko received more than 80% of the votes in the Aug. 9 election. Opposition supporters allege that the election was rigged. The European Union has declared the election “neither free nor fair.”

Germany, Poland and several other EU member states have issued statements saying they would not recognize Lukashenko as president.

Following the surprise inauguration ceremony, German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in Berlin that the vote did not meet “the minimum requirements for democratic elections.”

Poland’s Foreign Ministry expressed a similar sentiment: “A president elected in an undemocratic election cannot be considered as one that holds his office legally, regardless of whether his swearing-in is official or clandestine.”

Lukashenko has assumed his sixth consecutive term as president.

“Placing his right hand on the constitution, Alexander Lukashenko took the oath in the Belarusian language,” state news agency BelTA reported. In public appearances, Lukashenko usually speaks Russian.