Security forces in the Belarusian capital have detained more than 200 people in the latest anti-government protests sparked by the disputed presidential election 12 weeks ago.
Thousands of demonstrators took part in Sunday’s Nov. 1 demonstration in Minsk, where almost daily protests have called for Lukashenko’s resignation and a new vote.
Nearly all of those arrested are in custody in Minsk, according to a list published by the human rights organization Vyasna.
According to the Belarusian-language unit of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Boris Goretsky of the Belarusian Association of Journalists said that four journalists were among those detained, two of whom were “severely beaten.
Rows of security trucks and buses holding detainees could be seen as people marched toward a famous monument to the victims of the Soviet-era repression on the outskirts of the capital.
Protesters were attacked with flash grenades, and law enforcement agencies used tear gas and batons to try to disperse the crowd.
Authorities acknowledged that police also fired warning shots in the air during the demonstrations in Minsk.
Interfax news agency Zapad quoted a statement from the Minsk City Executive Committee as saying that these were “necessary measures to maintain order in the capital and ensure public safety during an unauthorized mass event. The statement cited those who ignored traffic rules, as well as police warnings about those who obstructed traffic.
Some motorists appeared to be trying to block the passage of vehicles preparing to take detainees.
In Minsk, armored vehicles armed with machine guns were seen, as well as water cannons and other riot control equipment, according to the Associated Press.
This is the 12th consecutive Sunday that Minsk has held a march to keep pressure on Lukashenka. Lukashenka has orchestrated a massive crackdown, arresting thousands of people since authorities declared him the winner of the Aug. 9 elections, which began his sixth consecutive term in office.
Most opposition leaders in Belarus have been arrested or forced to leave the country, including presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who said the vote was rigged in favor of the president. She says the vote was rigged in favor of Lukashenko and believes she is the legitimate winner. After the polls closed, she left Belarus for Lithuania, where she and her family were threatened.
Tskhanuskaya has been urging a “national strike” since October 26, but the strike has been met with sweeps by security forces and more brutal actions against dissidents.
The opposition has set a deadline of midnight on October 25 for Lukashenka, who has been president for 26 years, to step down.
After another show of power, Lukashenko met with his new security chief on October 30 and threatened to take “severe measures” against the protesters.
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