The opposition in Belarus on August 30 staged another mass rally to protest against the re-election of strongman President Alexander Lukashenko. Authorities responded by deploying a large anti-riot police force and troops in the capital, Minsk, and arresting at least 125 demonstrators. This is the third Sunday parade. Demonstrators are calling for Mr Lukashenka to step down. Germany will summon the Belarusian ambassador to Berlin.
The demonstrations are in their third week since Alexander Lukashenko was elected president in a vote of doubt on Tuesday. After tens of thousands of people responded, Mr. Lukashenko’s opponent, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, said she was the real winner.
Prior to the 30th demonstration, Belarusian people had previously held large demonstrations on 16th and 23rd respectively, which attracted about 100,000 people to the streets of Minsk to participate in the largest demonstration in Belarus to date. Agence France-Presse and other media estimates, 30 to participate in the demonstration of more than 100,000 people.
The peaceful march took place at 2pm in independence Square in the city centre.
Riot police and police cars blocked entrances to the square and placed metal barricades before the rally began, while a large number of police cars were parked nearby.
Protesters poured into the city center in several ways, carrying signs and the historic Red and white Belarusian flag, many accompanied by children, and passing cars honked their horns in a show of support.
Police arrested 125 people in Minsk, the Russian news agency RIA quoted the Belarusian Interior Ministry as saying.
Local media posted a video of the truck heading to the rally site. Armed forces, wearing headgear and without identification badges, blocked access around the war memorial, which had long been a rallying point for marchers.
AFP reporters witnessed police cordon off Another popular gathering spot, October Square, where hundreds of people gathered.
Belarusian authorities on Monday revoked the licenses of journalists from several foreign media outlets, including the BBC, Reuters, AGence France-Presse and The Associated Press, ahead of Saturday’s demonstration.
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