Belarus President Lukashenko Visits Military Base... "West Incites Protests"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In Belarus, where political instability continues due to protests rejecting the presidential election results, President Aleksandr Lukashenko visited a military base and accused Western powers of inciting anti-government protests. He claimed that NATO troops are deployed along the western border and are interfering in Belarus's internal affairs. The Belarusian opposition and protesters have demanded Lukashenko's resignation and a new election, citing election fraud.

According to foreign media including Russia's TASS on the 22nd (local time), President Lukashenko visited a military base in Grodno, near the borders with Poland and Lithuania, and asserted, "Western powers have incited the protests, and NATO troops have been deployed along the western border." Referring to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition presidential candidate in this election, Lukashenko said, "It is clear that they have already prepared a president to replace me," and emphasized, "There will definitely be military support. NATO troops are moving toward the border."

On the other hand, Tsikhanouskaya demanded Lukashenko's resignation. At a press conference held that day, she stated, "The Belarusian people cannot accept him as the new president," and insisted, "Lukashenko must step down soon." Tsikhanouskaya, the wife of Sergei Tikhanovsky, a Belarusian dissident blogger who was arrested and imprisoned by authorities in May while preparing to run for president, ran in the election on her husband's behalf and received about 10% of the vote, finishing second after Lukashenko, who was re-elected with 80% of the vote.

After the election, Tsikhanouskaya left for Lithuania for safety reasons and is currently staying in Vilnius. The day before, she filed a lawsuit with the Belarusian Supreme Court to invalidate the election. Opposition supporters have been holding protests demanding a new election, claiming widespread election fraud in the election held on the 9th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.