Despite the intervention of Belarusian troops, according to the Echo server of Moscow, some women managed to group and walk along the Prospectus of Independence, the main street in the center of Minsk.
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Other participants in the protest hid from unmarked men in balaclavas in the surrounding courtyards, but the intervention units chased them only there, surrounded them and arrested them.
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Among those detained is also a journalist from the Belarusian newspaper Naša niva and the editor of the Belarusian radio station Euroradio. Around five o’clock local time, probably none of the protesters stayed on the spot, the Tut.by server informed.
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The regime will not stop even before the arrest of journalists. Among the journalists arrested was Tut.by reporter Alexandra Elbaumová, who was subsequently released. The authorities have still not released the journalist of the Polish Belarusian-language station Belsat, Aljona Dovnarová.
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The Tut.by server also reported on the performance of musicians in the Minsk metro. They played the opposition anthem Стены рухнут (“The walls will fall”). When their performance was interrupted by police, the audience chanted “Uchadi!” (“Leave”) and “We are one nation.”
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The server states that according to readers, the musicians were detained on the spot.
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Banners and chanted shouts at Saturday’s events have in many cases referred to Lukashenko’s recent inauguration. According to Czech diplomacy, this inauguration was not legitimate.
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Police are trying to seize the original Belarusian national flag, which Lukashenko’s regime considers illegal.
Photo: Uncredited, ČTK / AP
“Elections in Belarus have not been free and fair. That is why their results are not legitimate, that is why today’s inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko is not legitimate. Belarusian civil society has the full support of the Czech Republic. Belarusians deserve freedom, “wrote the head of Czech diplomacy.
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The inauguration for Lukashenko’s sixth term took place despite mass protests that erupted in the country following the official announcement of his questioned election victory. The opposition considers the result of the vote to be falsified and Lukashenko’s election is not recognized by the European Union.
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Widespread protests in Belarus erupted on Sunday, August 9, in response to the non-standard conduct of the presidential election. Opposition candidate Sviatlana Cichanouska refused to acknowledge the victory of incumbent President Lukashenko, which was announced by official authorities. He considers the results to be falsified. The opposition assumes that the candidate actually won at least 70 percent of the vote.
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For the first five days, police brutally intervened with protesters using batons, flash grenades, rubber bullets, and in some places sharp fire. Thousands of people were detained, including casual passers-by. Authorities confirmed several dead.
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Later, the authorities allowed the demonstrations to run more freely, but in recent days they have tightened again. For a time, they did not intervene against the women at the forefront of the current protests. However, this attitude has changed in recent days.
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European Union sanctions against officials of the Belarusian regime are blocking Cyprus.
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