Tens of thousands of Belarusians demonstrate again against Lukashenko

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Two weeks after the start of the mobilization against the contested re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, new demonstrations took place in Belarus on Sunday.

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Tens of thousands of Belarusians demonstrated again Sunday, August 23 in Minsk to denounce the 80% re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, faced for two weeks with a huge protest movement .

Taking up slogans like “  freedom!  Or "  Lukashenko in the cellar!" », The demonstrators met on the Independence Square and its surroundings. They were waving white and red flags, the colors of the protest. They denounce the re-election deemed fraudulent on August 9 of President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as the brutal repression that followed.

"  If he really won the election then why are so many people taking to the streets against him?"  “, Pretends to question Evgueni, an 18-year-old protester. Lukashenko “  wants everyone to disperse and live as before (the poll). But it will never be the same again  , ”insists Nikita, 28, for his part.

"After 26 years of fear, they are ready to defend their rights"

Opposition-linked media and Telegram email accounts reported more than 100,000 protesters in the Belarusian capital for the second Sunday in a row. Gatherings in other cities across the country were also reported.

Last week, more than 100,000 people had already gathered to demand the departure of Lukashenko, who, in 26 years in power, had never faced such a challenge. "  I am so proud of the Belarusians now because, after 26 years of fear, they are ready to defend their rights,  " Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told AFP on Saturday . A refugee in Lithuania, she claims to have won the ballot and called on Belarusians "  to continue  " the movement.

(With AFP )

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• Belarus
• Alexander Lukashenko

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