Police in Minsk, Belarus, used high-pressure water cannons to disperse crowds protesting against President Lukashenko for the ninth consecutive Sunday. An estimated 100,000 people took to the streets of the capital on Sunday.
Protesters have taken to the streets regularly since the long-ruling president won a disputed election on Aug. 9, demanding his resignation and the release of political prisoners.
Lukashenko insists he won the election by a landslide, garnering 80 percent of all votes, despite widespread claims at home and abroad that the vote was heavily rigged to keep him in power.
Over the weekend, Belarus revoked the press credentials of all foreign journalists.
Late last week, the European Union imposed sanctions on some 40 Belarusian officials accused of falsifying election results and suppressing subsequent protests. Lukashenko was not on the list.
Public anger over the crackdown grew amid the protests, which saw more than 7,500 arrests and police violence against demonstrators.
Hundreds of people emerged from police custody with bruises. They told of the torture of those arrested by Lukashenka’s security officers.
Lukashenko said the protests were encouraged and supported by the West and accused NATO of moving troops near the Belarusian border. NATO has denied the allegations.
Recent Comments