Protests Swell in Belarus, Lukashenko Blames Foreigners

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko advised people on Friday to remain at home and stop being a "cannon fodder" for what he claimed was foreign-backed rebels after large crowds took to the streets for the sixth straight day requesting that he stand down.       

Lukashenko, whose claimed landslide re-election win last Sunday was branded a hoax by demonstrators, refused to stifle days of street protests against him amid the security forces' stern reaction to the protesters, reports Reuters.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who moved to neighbouring Lithuania under extreme strain earlier this week, called for further demonstrations and an election recount on Friday.

This has raised the burden on the divisive dictator as he confronts the toughest test of his 26 years in power.

He showed no signs of backing down.

"Don’t throw yourselves onto the streets. You must understand that you are being used, and our children are being used, like cannon fodder," Lukashenko said in televised remarks.

"Today people have come from Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine and from Russia. Aggression against our country has already begun," he said, suggesting anti-Kremlin activists were trying to whip up trouble.

He had earlier joked that he was alive and had not fled abroad.

In a video posted on social media on Friday, Tsikhanouskaya asked her supporters to demand an official investigation into allegations that Lukashenko had rigged the presidential election.

"Belarusians will never again want to live with the old authorities," she said. "Let's defend our choice. Don't stay on the sidelines. Our voices need to be heard."

At least two demonstrators were killed and thousands detained during the repression this week. On Friday, the European Union made the first step in enforcing fresh restrictions on Belarus, with a diplomatic source stating that Member States have decided to designate the foreign policy unit to compile a list of people to be blacklisted.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets for a sixth consecutive day on Friday demanding that Lukashenko step down. Protesters were joined by workers at some of the state-owned industrial plants that are the centerpiece of his Soviet-style economic model.

As the crowd converged on the parliament building on Independence Square in Minsk, at least two helmeted security officers lowered their riot shields, prompting women to run forward to hug them and offer flowers.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Friday told people to stay at home to avoid becoming "cannon fodder" for what he said were foreign-backed revolutionaries after huge crowds took to the streets for a sixth consecutive day to demand he step down.

Lukashenko, whose claimed landslide re-election win last Sunday was branded a hoax by demonstrators, struggled to stifle days of street protests against him amid the security forces' strong response to the protesters.

Opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who earlier this week fled to neighbouring Lithuania under severe pressure, called on Friday for more protests and an election recount.

That heaped more pressure on the authoritarian leader as he faces the biggest challenge in his 26 years in power.

He showed no signs of backing down.

"Don’t throw yourselves onto the streets. You must understand that you are being used, and our children are being used, like cannon fodder," Lukashenko said in televised remarks.

"Today people have come from Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine and from Russia. Aggression against our country has already begun," he said, suggesting anti-Kremlin activists were trying to whip up trouble.

He had earlier joked that he was alive and had not fled abroad.

In a video posted on social media on Friday, Tsikhanouskaya asked her supporters to demand an official investigation into allegations that Lukashenko had rigged the presidential election.

"Belarusians will never again want to live with the old authorities," she said. "Let's defend our choice. Don't stay on the sidelines. Our voices need to be heard."

At least two protesters were killed and thousands detained in this week's crackdown. The European Union on Friday took its first step towards imposing new sanctions on Belarus, with a diplomatic source saying member states had agreed to task its foreign policy unit with preparing a list of individuals to be blacklisted.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets on Friday for the sixth straight day asking that Lukashenko back down. Protesters were accompanied by staff at several of the state-owned manufacturing plants that are the backbone of his Soviet-style economic model.

As the crowd converged on the parliament building on Independence Square in Minsk, at least two helmeted security officers lowered their riot shields, prompting women to run forward to hug them and offer flowers.

In a carnival atmosphere, marchers held up balloons, flags and placards saying "we will not forget, we will not forgive". Horns from passing cars blared in solidarity.

In an unprecedented upsurge, the government had earlier apologized for using intimidation when it released more than 2,000 demonstrators from jail.

Several of them showed serious injuries and talked about beatings, cramping conditions and hunger rations within the jails. The government denied abusing detainees.

'GO AWAY'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for sanctions on those "who violated democratic values or abused human rights in Belarus".

Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told his Swiss counterpart in a call that Minsk was ready for "constructive and objective dialogue with foreign partners" about issues related to the election, the state news agency BelTA reported.

Russia, which has pushed Lukashenko to embrace stronger political and economic relations, voiced alarm over what it described as an effort by external powers to destabilize Belarus.

Russian prosecutor's office confirmed on Friday that Belarus had released a party of 32 Russian citizens after they had been arrested and suspected of being mercenaries to destabilize Belarus.

Lukashenko, a 65-year-old who once ran a Soviet collective farm, has faced increasing anger over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as well as a sluggish economy and civil rights.

The official election result handed him a landslide victory with 80% of the vote, compared to around 10% for Tsikhanouskaya. Washington said the vote "was not free and fair".

Thousands of workers protested Friday at the Minsk automobile Plant (MAZ), which makes trucks and buses, chanting "Shame on you!" and "Go!" echoing the unrest seen in several major factories this week.  

Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old former English teacher, emerged from obscurity a few weeks ago to take her husband's place in the election campaign after he was jailed. She has now led some of the biggest protests against Lukashenko since he came to power with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Shortly after the election, she fled to Lithuania, saying it was for the sake of her children. On Friday, she called for the international community to facilitate talks with the authorities and said she wanted to set up a council to enable a transfer of power, a proposal that was swiftly endorsed by the president of Lithuania.