Thousands joined a peaceful anti-government march in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on October 18 despite a recent threat by authorities to use lethal weapons against protesters. Demonstrations have been ongoing in Belarus since authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory in the August 9 presidential election, a vote that the EU and the United States have refused to recognize.


MINSK -- Belarusian police detained more than 90 people during the latest rally to demand that authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka step down as a political standoff enters its 11th week.

At least 77 people were arrested in the capital, Minsk, during the rally on October 18, the Vyasna rights group reported. The rest were detained in regional cities, the group said.

Thousands of citizens peacefully marched through the center of Minsk on a cool, overcast day carrying the banned red-and-white flag of the opposition.

“Look out the window. Stop watching TV,” the protesters chanted, a reference to state-controlled media downplaying the size and peaceful nature of the rallies.

The protesters also called for Lukashenka’s arrest.

“Lukashenka in a paddy wagon!” they shouted.

The authorities deployed armored vehicles and water cannons in Minsk and blocked roads.

The October 18 rally attracted a smaller crowd than in previous weeks.

In the days leading up to the rally, Belarus's First Deputy Interior Minister Gennady Kazakevich threatened to use “lethal weapons if need be” on protesters to break up the demonstrations, which the authorities have called illegal.

Kazakevich claimed that protesters had become "extremely radical."

His statement was the first time Belarusian authorities have explicitly threatened to use firearms against opposition demonstrators. He did not carry out his threat.

Belarus has been rocked by protests since Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was declared the winner of the country’s August 9 election amid allegations of widespread vote-rigging.

The protesters are calling for Lukashenka to step down and for new elections to be held.


Lukashenka sought to immediately squash the protest movement as he had in the past with harassments, arrests, and police brutality.

More than 12,000 Belarusians have been detained and hundreds tortured during protests over the ensuing weeks.

His top rival, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was forced to flee to Lithuania amid threats to her and her family. Supporters and others say she was the real winner of the August 9 vote.

However, the authorities have been unable to stamp out the movement and a stalemate has ensued.

The EU and United States have refused to recognize Lukashenka, who held an abrupt inauguration ceremony last month, as the legitimate ruler of Belarus.

Tsikhanouskaya and her supporters have stepped up their pressure this week as she called on Lukashenka to step down by October 25 or face a nationwide strike.

Lukashenka has lost the support of many state workers, long considered his base, as the economy has struggled under his rule in recent years.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rferl.org/amp/belarusian-protesters-due-to-stage-march-despite-authorities-threat-to-open-fire/30899424.html

EVERY ONE WANT BETTER LIFE TO LIVE. NO MORE BAD GOV'T.

Buhari if you should try this here ehnnn, him go detain tire ooo.

It's already turning into a revolution here. Osibanjo should just resign from this evil government.

11 weeks! I thought They said UN will turn up after 4 weeks...

topcatking:
11 weeks! I thought They said UN will turn up after 4 weeks...

UN fire..

UN doesn't meddle in politics. Besides the UN is a coalition of countries and Russia is currently supporting the Belarusian President while the U.S is not.

How UN go settle that one now?

Robert1da:


UN fire..

UN doesn't meddle in politics. Besides the UN is a coalition of countries and Russia is currently supporting the President while the US is not.

How UN go settle that one now?

Protesters, please note.

We should not peddle false hope.

We are on our own.

Robert1da:


UN fire..

UN doesn't meddle in politics. Besides the UN is a coalition of countries and Russia is currently supporting the President while the US is not.

How UN go settle that one now?

Russia always supporting oppressive government, they will support China, north Korea, any evil government, they will supoort

Freestainworld:
Russia always supporting oppressive government, they will support China, north Korea, any evil government, they will supoort

Vladimir Putin is a lowkey dictator. Just like his fellow ancestors that ruled that country.

Robert1da:


Vladimir Putin is a lowkey dictator. Just like his fellow ancestors that ruled that country.

I wonder oo, always supporting oppressive governments, that is how they supported Assad the president of Syria, now look at what happened to Syria at the end of the day.