Unprecedented violence against women demonstrations in Belarus
Masked men in police uniforms attacked demonstrations of peaceful women on Saturday to express their protest against President Alexander Lukashenko after announcing his victory in the presidential elections last month.
Thousands of women gathered today in the capital, Minsk, and 37 of them were arrested, according to the Wesna Center for Human Rights.
Similar protests occurred in cities other than the capital, Minsk.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated her concern about the developments in Belarus, saying in her weekly video message on Saturday: "There is literally being trampled upon by the commitment to democracy."
Merkel added, saying, "Our heart beats with the peaceful demonstrators, and what is impressive is the size of the courage and determination shown by these demonstrators in order to obtain freedom and achieve the rule of law."
A young woman from Minsk suffered a deep wound in the face after police strikes her, after she removed a mask from the face of a masked man carrying the uniform and hit him with full force.
Nicknamed "the last dictator in Europe", Lukashenko took top positions in the security apparatus and called for tough measures against unauthorized protests.
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