Belarus protesters take to streets as government faces ultimatum

Tens of thousands of people marched through the capital, threatening a national strike if President Alexander Lukashenko refuses to resign

Lukashenko said he would ignore the calls to step down, with the strike scheduled to begin at midnight

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Law enforcement officers block a road as opposition supporters gather in Minsk on Sunday, the final day of an ultimatum set by the opposition for Belarus’ embattled strongman leader to resign. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:59pm, 25 Oct 2020Updated: 10:59pm, 25 Oct 2020

Tens of thousands of people marched through Minsk and other cities on Sunday, keeping pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko a day before the opposition threatens to launch a national strike if he refuses to resign.

Crowds streamed through the capital shouting “strike”, waving red-and-white opposition flags and beating drums on the 11th straight weekend of mass protests since a disputed election plunged the country into turmoil.

Twelve metro stations were closed, helmeted riot police patrolled the streets and mobile internet services were disrupted in Minsk. Two journalists were detained ahead of the protest, a local journalists’ association said.

Tens of people were detained and security forces used tear gas in the western town of Lida, the Russian news agency RIA quoted the regional branch of the interior ministry as saying.

A former Soviet collective farm manager, Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for more than a quarter of a century and has shown little inclination to quit, buoyed by loans and the offer of military support from traditional ally Russia.

The president’s main opponents have been jailed or fled into exile following the Aug. 9 election, which Lukashenko’s opponents accuse him of rigging to win a sixth straight term. He denies electoral fraud.

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