Protests Continue In Belarus

Thousands of protesters once again gathered on the streets of Minsk on Sunday to protest against the re-election of incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko. Demonstrators were accompanied by a hefty police presence, including large numbers of riot police. BBC reports indicate that at least 140 individuals were arrested. This latest wave of protests coincides with Lukashenko’s 66th birthday; Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed “warm wishes” in a phone call to Lukashenko yesterday, and is said to have invited him to Moscow in what would seem to be another demonstration of support for the Belarusian leader from the Kremlin. 

Protests were initially sparked in Belarus following the re-election of President Lukashenko on 9th August. He has now been in power for a total of 26 years and is described by many as the “last European dictator.” It is thought that the election was rigged; results stated Lukashenko won 80% of the votes but this has been largely rejected, including by the EU which is now bringing financial sanctions to those involved in this electoral fraud. However, Lukashenko seems determined to hold onto power and has been employing aggressive tactics against protesters that have seen at least four people die, hundreds injured and thousands arrested. 

In addition to accounts of police brutality, the latest news from Belarus includes the removal of the accreditation of 17 Belarusian journalists who were working for foreign news outlets, including the BBC. This repressive action has been widely denounced: in an interview with CNN the BBC’s Head of Communications Charlotte Morgan said that “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this stifling of independent journalism.” 

This is not the first recent instance of Lukashenko attempting to suppress journalism: earlier last week 50 journalists were detained by riot police. Although most were later released, some were deported and four were charged with organizing illegal protests. In response to this, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote in a tweet: “I condemn the mass detention of over 50 journalists last night in Belarus, including from the BBC, local and international media. This was a blatant attempt to interfere with objective and honest reporting.”

However, although the opposition holds widespread support from the Belarusian population and the election result and Lukashenko’s subsequent actions have been widely condemned by the international community, there is still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the future of Belarusian politics. It appears that Lukashenko still has support from police, KGB, and the army who have, until now, been the force behind the crackdown on demonstrators. There is also uncertainty regarding the possibility that Russia will intervene on Lukashenko’s behalf, which would shift power balances significantly. What is clear, is that Lukashenko has remained in his position of power through fraudulent and unethical actions. The violent crackdown on protesters and the repression of journalism are indicative of his corrupt and inhuman actions in a desperate attempt to remain in power. Whether or not the economic sanctions imposed by the EU, the protests and international pressure will suffice to remove him from his seat remains to be seen.

Clara Baltay

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