Belarus: opposition to Alexander Lukashenko already discouraged in Minsk

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Mobilization at half mast in Minsk on Monday, August 10, after the night of violent demonstrations which followed the much contested re-election of Alexander Lukashenko, in power in Belarus since 1994. Opposition supporters rallied again in the evening, but they were less numerous than the day before. A protester died on Monday evening, killed by the explosive device he was about to throw at the police, and which exploded in his hands, according to the police. 

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With our special correspondent in Minsk, Daniel Vallot

Did the impressive police device deployed on the evening of Monday, August 10 in the capital Minsk discourage opposition supporters? They were in any case much less numerous to beat the pavement than the day before. The same slogans, the same anger, but perhaps already a touch of discouragement in the face of the result confirmed on Monday: more than 80% of the votes for outgoing President Alexander Lukashenko, and barely 10% for the opposition.

► See also: Presidential election in Belarus: concert of critics in Europe after Lukashenko's victory

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya filed her appeal but did not demonstrate

The discouragement is perhaps also related to the violence which punctuated the demonstrations of Sunday, and the very numerous arrests: more than 3,000 demonstrators were apprehended , according to the Ministry of the Interior. The Belarusian authorities do not want to give the opposition any chance, either at the polls or in the streets.

Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, for her part, lodged an appeal formally contesting the result of the vote. But she gave up participating in the demonstrations, to avoid being arrested in turn.

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• Belarus
• Alexander Lukashenko

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