Protests against Lukashenko enter 8th consecutive weekend

DPA ,04TH OCTOBER ,2020- Demonstrators are expected to take to the streets of Belarus for the eighth weekend in a row on Sunday for protests against long-time President Alexander Lukashenko.

Called by the Belarusian opposition, the Sunday protests usually see a large turnout; some 100,000 people took part in last weekend’s gathering, when over 350 of them were arrested.

Demonstrators have been asked to bring pictures of political prisoners and to march in front of detention centres.

It remains to be seen whether security forces will treat them differently since Belarus withdrew the accreditation of all foreign correspondents, making protest coverage difficult.

Several prominent members of the opposition are currently in detention, including leader Maria Kalesnikava, who is facing up to five years in jail on charges of endangering national security

Several prominent members of the opposition are currently in detention, including leader Maria Kalesnikava, who is facing up to five years in jail on charges of endangering national security. Protests against Lukashenko have been ongoing since disputed presidential elections on August 9, with several deaths, hundreds of injuries and more than 10,000 arrests since.

They are calling for the release of all political prisoners, Lukashenko’s resignation and free and fair new elections.