Belarus: clashes erupt in Minsk after announcement of Lukashenko's re-election

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2 min

In Belarus, outgoing President Alexander Lukashenko, in power for 26 years, was re-elected for a second term with nearly 80% of the vote, according to an official poll. Immediately after the announcement of this score, people gathered in the capital, Minsk, where clashes broke out with the police. The ballot was very tense, preceded by arrests of opposition candidates and supporters of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, main rival of Alexander Lukashenko, credited with barely 7% of the vote, while she was able to create around from her a vast protest movement against power.

Publicity

With our special correspondent in Minsk, Daniel Vallot

Thousands of people began to converge on the crossroads where opposition supporters had met. Very quickly, the demonstrators were dispersed by the police, very numerous, who intervened very early in the evening.

The police presence was shouted at by demonstrators very upset against these preliminary results announced Sunday, August 9 in the evening and against this figure of 7% of the vote for the opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa. "  This figure is a sham,  " said a resident of Minsk who came with several of her friends despite the risk of arrest because the authorities did not hide their intention to break any attempt to protest in the street.

Internet cut

The center of the Belarusian capital is completely sealed off. Military vehicles are posted on the main roads leading to the city. Finally, the Internet network was cut, making it impossible to communicate between groups of demonstrators.

Another sign of firmness on the part of the authorities: the very numerous arrests within the campaign team of Svetlana Tikhanoskaïa. The leader of the opposition was to speak this Sunday, August 9 in the evening but her message will not have been heard by her supporters deprived of the Internet and therefore of any means of obtaining information.

► (Re) listen: Presidential in Belarus: "Svetlana Tikhanovskaya presents a face of modernity"

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• Belarus
• Alexander Lukashenko

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