Belarus leader, clinging to power, says Putin offers help with ‘security’
- Belarus protesters are demanding the country’s authoritarian leader resign after a presidential vote they called fraudulent
- Russian president agrees to provide security assistance to restore order if Belarus requests it
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has offered to help ensure the country’s security, as opposition protesters kept up the pressure on the veteran leader over his claim to have won re-election.
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the capital at the spot where a demonstrator died during this week’s police crackdown on protests against Lukashenko’s claim to have won re-election last Sunday.
With the opposition gaining momentum after days of demonstrations, Lukashenko’s main election challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had asked supporters to rally over the weekend.
Demonstrators heaped flowers at the spot where Alexander Taraikovsky, 34, died on Monday. The crowd chanted “Thank you!” and raised victory signs while police kept a low profile.
Many held up photographs of protesters beaten during the crackdown, while one man stood in his underwear revealing the purple bruises on his thighs, buttocks and back.
Later thousands protested outside the Belarusian state television centre, complaining that their broadcasts backed Lukashenko and gave a skewed picture of the protests.
Riot police later arrived at the building and blocked off the entrance to the building.