Belarus: Tens of Thousands March in "Freedom March"

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

In Belarus, opposition to the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko is not weakening. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated again this Sunday.

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While Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday rejected calls for new elections and asked his supporters to "  defend the country's independence  " , tens of thousands of demonstrators were marching at the same time against power during "a march of freedom ”, one of the largest gatherings since the start of the protest.

“  Justice!  ","  Go! Chanted the protesters to the attention of the Head of State as they paraded along Independence Avenue. Carrying flowers, dressed in white, the demonstrators walked amid songs and car horns towards the monument erected in memory of the victims of World War II. The protesters carried at arm's length a gigantic white and red flag, the colors of the opposition.

The protest began as the rally supporting the president was still underway. The main procession, but also others from different neighborhoods, finally headed for the Place de la Victoire, since it could no longer go in front of the seat of government.

A symbolic place because it is on this place that a demonstration had already been repressed in the blood at the beginning of the protest movement. On social networks, testimonies of the mobilization in the rest of the country and impressive images are circulating, showing considerable crowds.

Minsk right now #Belarus pic.twitter.com/TFMFo52rtm

The protest widens

Responding to the call of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , the main rival of Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential election, Belarusians also demonstrated on Sunday in the main cities of the country and in smaller towns. A call for a national strike from Monday was also circulating on social networks.

Members of the Belarusian elite also rallied to the protest such as public television journalists, usually under the orders of power, researchers and businessmen, but also a former Minister of Culture, Pavel Latushko.

Since Thursday, in reaction to the violence, the mobilization has spread: human chains and opposition rallies have sprung up all over the country, while iconic factory workers have launched solidarity actions.

 ■ Belarusian Ambassador to Slovakia supports demonstrators

Sitting behind a desk, Igor Leschchenya, speaks solemnly in front of the camera. The Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia immediately denounces the violence against anti-Lukashenko demonstrators.

“  Like all Belarusians, I am shocked by these stories of torture and beatings of my fellow citizens. In one of the photos from a news site, despite the bruises covering it, I recognized a classmate of my daughter, who I'm sure has never been a troubles,  ”he says. 

The one who “  represents the Republic of Belarus and its people in Slovakia  ” then expressed his solidarity with “  those who went out into the streets of our cities to participate in peaceful demonstrations so that their voices are heard  ”.

"  I sincerely hope that the future of my Belarus will be based on respect for the opinions of all sections of society and the representatives of different political parties  ", he concluded, joining other personalities who have also provided support to the protesters.

(With AFP )

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• Alexander Lukashenko
• Belarus

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