Belarus Anti-Government Protests Enter Third Week... 'Military Bloodshed Crackdown Crisis'

Military Uniformed Soldier Memorial Facility Appears in Minsk, Belarus Capital
President Lukashenko Shares SNS Photo Evoking Bloody Suppression

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] In Belarus, where anti-election protests have continued for more than two weeks, military forces have been deployed in the capital Minsk. The protesters have shown a strong stance by advancing to the presidential residence, raising concerns about the possibility of violent clashes.

Belarus protesters protesting the presidential election results
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

On the 23rd (local time) in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters waved the old Belarusian flag and demanded the resignation of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. They have declared the presidential election held on the 9th as rigged and are calling for a re-election.

According to the official presidential election tally, President Lukashenko received nearly 80% support. However, Belarusian citizens regard this election result as fraudulent and have taken to the streets in protest. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a leading opposition candidate, fled to Lithuania due to concerns over her personal safety.

Despite harsh crackdowns by the police and others, the protests have continued for two consecutive weeks. In particular, when the protesters approached the obelisk commemorating the victory in World War II, the Belarusian military announced its intention to intervene.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The Belarusian Ministry of Defense stated, "The military has an obligation to protect monuments," and warned, "Any disorder could lead to military intervention." When protesters actually approached the monument, incidents occurred where soldiers in military uniforms surrounded them. The Ministry described the protesters as fascists and warned that sacred places must not be desecrated. They said, "We strongly warn that any acts disrupting peace and order at monuments will be handled not by the police but by the military."

Although the military declared its intention to guard specific facilities, the possibility of clashes between protesters and the military cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, concerns have grown that the military may use force against the protesters.

In fact, President Lukashenko has been promoting a climate of fear by publicly sharing images on social networking services (SNS) of himself wearing a bulletproof vest and holding an automatic rifle while disembarking from a helicopter.

Meanwhile, Belarusian police announced that protests occurred in 55 residential areas nationwide the previous day, resulting in 22 arrests.

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