Clashes with police at post-election rally in Minsk (photos, video)


Mikalai Statkevich and Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu, 2010 presidential candidates and former political prisoners, are calling on Belarusians to protest against electoral farces organized by the regime. Monday’s picket began at 18:00 In Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.

On September 11, the 2016 parliamentary election took place in Belarus. Only two independent candidates  – Alena Anisim and Hanna Kanapatskaya – got into the lower chamber of Belarus’ National Assembly.

“If we fail to draw fair election from the authorities in the next few years, a dark and dim future will be reserved for our country. Our economic model is at such a low ebb that so that the quality of life would be much poorer next year,” Statkevich said.

The post-election action is the start of a campaign for holding new elections to the House of Representatives.

Belsat TV cameraman interviews informants (or plaincloth policemen?):

Young front leader Zmitser Dashkevich (photo above) asks a police officer in civvies why he was wearing a cap ‘Russia’ if he had owed allegiance to Belarus:

Activist Maxim Vinyarski (C) with the banner ‘For new Elections’

Mikalai Statkevich intended to urge the picketers to take a civic oath of allegiance to Belarus and show their willingness to defend its independence with arms in hand. But the police’s violent actions were a backset to his plan: the organizers of the action decided against going to the building of the Central Election Commission in order not to provoke the police.

Walking by the KGB building, the protesters were chanting: “Shame!”

The police officers began to draw up first protocols. The protesters are outraged. are angry and screaming. They are many plaincloth people who are hiding their faces. Some of them pushed activists:

Mikalai Statkevich and Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu: ‘Lukashenka Go Away’

“Two members of the opposition were appointed to parliament, which is something new for Belarus. In fact, you know, the election was not fair. There was another political farce and cheating the nation. And we are here to say ‘no’ to chaeting and demand new, free and fair elections,” Nyaklyayeu said.

The participants of the action are going to publicly express their anger and protest, not oust the regime. During the action, election observers will stand the chance to tell the picketers about violations and ballot rigging recorded in the course of the 2016 parliamentary election, Mikalai Statkevich said shortly before the rally.

It is the Belarusian police that are also getting ready for the picket and taking preventive measures against members of opposition parties and movements:

Summons for activist

belsat.eu

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