Belarus’ embattled president has a message for tens of thousands of protesters who proceed to inquire he step down: He’s no longer going wherever.
Video shown on issue files company Belta confirmed a rifle-wielding President Alexander Lukashenko emerging from a helicopter after other unverified video shared on social media confirmed him hovering over gigantic teach crowds within the capital Minsk.No ammunition clip modified into visible in his weapon.
The strongman wearing body armor modified into point out by Belta arriving by helicopter as the crowds approached the perimeters of his presidential plot grounds ahead of dispersing peacefully.
A voiceover from Belta acknowledged a teen, additionally in camouflage-vogue body armor and carrying a rifle, in Lukashenko’s entourage as the president’s 15-year-outmoded son, Nikolai.
An estimated crowd of between 100,000 and 200,000 folks attended the rally in Minsk as protests entered their third week after a contested election, which seen Lukashenko, 65, accumulate by a landslide, though the opposition has known as the vote rigged.
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Within the times following the disputed vote, violent clashes with police left thousands of oldsters detained and dozens injured, fueling protests of the size and length unheard of for Belarus.
It’s no longer obvious why Lukashenko made the point out of power as there had been no experiences of protesters making an strive to enter the presidential plot or its grounds.
A substantial contingent of security companies and police trucks had been deployed to the rally within the capital, elevating fears of a repeat crackdown, however there had been no instantaneous experiences of clashes or detentions.
One more video that emerged on social media on Sunday confirmed Lukashenko greeting insurrection police officers outside his plot. The president may per chance per chance also neutral even be heard thanking the officers and calling them “beauties.” The insurrection police may per chance per chance also neutral even be heard banging their shields in response. Some may per chance per chance also neutral even be heard yelling out: “We’re with you till the live.”
Belarusians were protesting each day since the election on Aug. 9. Lukashenko has blamed foreign powers for conspiring to descend him.
He has been stoking fears of NATO forces aggregating on the nation’s western border, a claim that the alliance denies.
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Meanwhile, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, a political novice and runner-up to Lukashenko, is as a consequence of meet with Deputy Secretary of Pronounce Stephen Biegun in Lithuania on Monday.
Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania after the election for security reasons.
She has declared herself the decent winner and told Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza on Monday that she hoped a dialogue with the authorities will commence up soon, Reuters reported.
Lukashenko’s crackdown on protesters has triggered global condemnation, with European leaders threatening sanctions and the U.S. calling the election “neither free nor perfect-attempting.”
Reuters contributed to this sage.
