15th day of post-election protests: New Belarus March in Minsk (photo story)
23.08.202012:14
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Today, on the 15th day of protests, Minskers are taking to the streets again: New Belarus March started at 14:00 (local time). Peaceful rallies are also being held in other Belarusian cities and towns.
By various estimates, 70,000 – 100,000 persons gathered at the Independence Square in Minsk (where the House of Government is located) at about 15:00. Later, the number of participants was reportedly doubled. Their demands are the same: releasing all political prisoners and detained protesters; Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s resignation and holding new elections; giving reliable and unbiased information on state-run media outlets.
A day earlier, the first and still the only president of Belarus spoke about pressure on officials and the military, and called the media ‘part of a hybrid war’ against Belarus.
“I’ve just told them: you have Saturday and Sunday to think. Let them not be offended starting from Monday. Authorities must be authorities,” Lukashenka said when delivering a speech in Hrodna.
However, in the other part of his speech, he hinted that the repression would start this weekend.
This Sunday, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin has warned the protesters against ‘dusturbing peace and order’, sayint that the army will be ‘dealing with them’ on the contrary case.