Opposition leader Belarus demands president resign with ultimatum | Abroad

Tikhanovskaya gives the president 13 days to announce his resignation, stop the violence in the streets and release the political prisoners. “If the requirements are not met by October 25, the whole country will take to the streets peacefully,” the opposition leader wrote in a statement Tuesday.

“On October 26, all businesses will go on strike, all roads will be blocked and no state store will sell anything,” Tichanovskaya threatens. The ultimatum comes after President Lukashenko gave police permission on Monday to use weapons against protesters. On Sunday, the police cracked down on protesters and arrested hundreds of participants. On Monday, 189 people were arrested during protests across the country.

Quarter of a century of power

In the Eastern European country, massive demonstrations have been going on for weeks by citizens who want to get rid of Lukashenko, who has been in power for a quarter of a century. He is also seen as the last dictator in Europe. Opposition supporters think that election fraud was committed in August to keep the 66-year-old leader in power and see Tikhanovskaya as the rightful winner. She fled Belarus after the elections and now resides in Vilnius, Lithuania.

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