Women form human chain in latest election protests in Belarus
Thousands of Belarusian women linked arms and carried photos of loved ones detained by the state in a peaceful protest in Minsk yesterday.
The demonstration was the latest in five days of protests following Sunday’s election which saw Alexandr Lukashenko, known as “Europe’s last dictator”, claim victory with 80 per cent of the vote.
The country has seen five days of clashes with riot police who have utilised water cannons, rubber bullets and light grenades against protestors, at least one of whom is known to have died. Authorities yesterday said that more than 6,000 people had been detained during the protests.
The demonstrations began amid claims of electoral fraud after Lukashenko’s main opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was named as having lost the battle against Lukashenko. Ms Tikhanovskaya, who stepped in after the original candidate – her husband, Sergei – was arrested.
She is believed to have left Belarus after making a formal complaint at the Electoral Commission. While at the commission, she lost touch with staffers for more than five hours, during which time she is believed to have recorded a video telling protestors to stop their demonstrations. She is said to be safe in Lithuania, where she earlier this week indicated that she had left “for the sake of her children”.
Initially peaceful protests on Sunday soon turned into violent clashes with police. The internet has been intermittent in Belarus in recent days
“Belarusians have seen the villainous face of this government,” said Valentina Chailytko, 49, whose husband and son were detained on Sunday.
“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.”
Ms Chailytko said she has been unable to find any information about their whereabouts. Lukashenko has derided the political opposition as “sheep” manipulated by foreign masters, and vowed to continue taking a tough position on protests.
“The core of these so-called protesters are people with a criminal past and [those who are] currently unemployed,” Mr Lukashenko said.
This year, the economic damage caused by corona virus and the president’s response to the pandemic, which he dismissed as “psychosis”, has fuelled anger, helping swell opposition ranks and prompting a renewed crackdown, which drew criticism in the West.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the 27-nation bloc will review its relations with Belarus and consider “measures against those responsible for the observed violence, unjustified arrests and falsification of election results”.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the election was not “free and fair” and urged the government to refrain from violence against peaceful protesters.