From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 10, 2020
Police said to crack down as protesters return to Minsk streets
Scattered groups of opposition supporters have gathered in downtown Minsk, chanting “Freedom!” and “Long live Belarus!” as a second night of protests gets underway after strongman Alexander Lukashenko won a new term in office a day earlier.
Heavy police contingents are deployed to block central squares and avenues.
Lukashenko warns that the protesters who challenge the official vote results extending his 26-year rule will face a tough crackdown, deriding the opposition as “sheep” manipulated by foreign masters.
Videos and pictures on social media show activists running from heavily armed police, who have reportedly opened fire on the protesters.
First use of #Belarus Special Unit against protesters in #Minsk. pic.twitter.com/eIjKMq8Dm3
— Aldin ???????? (@aldin_aba) August 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/ilyapahomov/status/1292882322719682563
https://twitter.com/PolskaNormalna/status/1292882608670547968
A spokesperson for Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, whose surprise candidacy posed the biggest challenge to the veteran leader in years, says she is not expected to take part in the protests.
“Authorities can create any provocative situation to detain her and we need her to be free,” Anna Krasulina told AFP.
An AFP journalist in Minsk says the area near the war memorial where protesters had gathered on Sunday has been sealed off and several central subway stations closed.
Thousands took to the streets of Minsk and other cities on Sunday night to denounce the vote, sparking clashes with members of law enforcement.
Police said they detained some 3,000 people, around 1,000 of them in Minsk.
Shocking images released by pro-opposition media and posted online showed police firing stun grenades and rubber bullets into the crowds and a police van ramming into the demonstration and running down a protester.
— Agencies
The Times of Israel Community.