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October 12, 2020 In Belarus, the government authorized the police to use "lethal weapons" during protests against President Aleksandr Lukashenko, which continue from the presidential elections on August 9 across the country.
This was announced by Deputy Interior Minister Gennady Kazakevich, according to whom in the light of the events recorded during yesterday's court in Minsk, "we found that the groups have organized and have become extremely radical" and therefore "dangerous".
The deputy minister reported protesters who threw stones and bottles at riot police, "also brandishing knives".
During the night the riots continued with barricades along the streets and burning tires.
"On behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, I announce that we will not leave the streets and ensure compliance with the law in the country," said Kazakevich, adding that the security forces "will be able to use special equipment and lethal weapons, if necessary" against the demonstrators. .
According to the human rights association Viasna, 600 demonstrators ended up under arrest "in the peaceful protests" yesterday in Minsk and other locations, "dispersed with harshness" by the police.
This organization, supported by others in the country, denounces that since the beginning of the marches of the popular movement that considers Lukashenko's reconfirmation at the polls illegitimate, hundreds of arbitrary arrests have been recorded since August, with cases of violence by agents against demonstrators and torture in prison.