Opposition demonstrators in Belarus have held scattered marches and rallies in Minsk and other cities, pressuring strongman Leader Alexander Lukashenko to make political concessions. Security forces in Belarus have arrested dozens of people.
Human rights group Viyasna says nearly 180 people were detained during the December 13 protests. Most were reportedly arrested in Minsk.
More than 120 marches were held across the country, with crowds ranging from dozens to hundreds at each rally, according to nasanivar, a local news agency.
Some of the protesters marched through residential areas outside Minsk, waving white and red flags, the opposition symbol, and chanting “Long live Belarus.”
The demonstration came as an opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was scheduled to attend the event in Germany as part of her effort to rally international support for the embattled Opposition in Belarus.
Since Mr. Lukashenko was declared the winner of the presidential election in early August, the country has been subject to unprecedented protests by the political opposition, whose leaders say the election was rigged.
Activists have resisted police tactics of violence and organized weeks of demonstrations and rallies.
Still, the only sign that Mr Lukashenka is backing down is his proposal to draft a new constitution.
Unlike last weekend’s demonstrations, authorities in Minsk did not shut down the subway system on Dec. 13, and there were no reports of major Internet disruptions.
Many opposition leaders in Belarus have been arrested or forced to leave the country, including Ms Tskhanuskaya, who says she won elections in August.
Zihanuskaya now lives in exile in neighboring Lithuania. She praised the actions of the protesters who had gathered, saying they had “defied repression, violence and cold.”
“They are boycotting the Lukashenka regime because the Belarusian people want to live in a democratic and free country,” she said on Twitter.
The United States, the European Union and several other countries have refused to recognize Mr. Lukashenko as the winner.
The European Union imposed sanctions on Mr. Lukashenko and his Allies for alleged election rigging and a violent police crackdown.
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