Large-Scale Anti-Government Protests Continue Across Belarus... Over 300 Detained

Anti-government protests demanding President Lukashenko's resignation continue for 4 months
Russia reportedly considering exit strategy for Belarus crisis

On the 6th (local time), despite the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), citizens wearing masks held an anti-government protest march on the streets of Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and trainee reporter Kim Su-hwan] Anti-government protests that began after allegations of election fraud in the presidential election held in Belarus last August have continued for four months. As the protests have entered a prolonged phase, there are observations that Russia, which had shown a pro-Belarus stance, is gradually changing its attitude.

According to foreign media including Euronews, on the 6th (local time), thousands of citizens across Belarus participated in protests demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko, and the public security authorities reportedly arrested about 300 participants in a single day.

During the protests, participants chanted the slogan "Long live Belarus" and marched through the streets waving the white-red-white tricolor flag, a symbol of anti-government resistance. In response, Belarusian police deployed military vehicles and water cannon trucks to disperse the protesters.

After President Lukashenko won the August 9 presidential election with over 80% of the vote, opposition forces raised suspicions of election fraud, and anti-government protests have continued daily.

Despite the Belarusian government's harsh crackdown, the protests have persisted for several months. According to Belarusian media such as Nashaniva, more than 30,000 citizens had been arrested by last month. This means about 3 people per 1,000 in Belarus have been detained.

As the protests have prolonged, there are also observations that Russia’s stance, which had supported the Lukashenko regime, is changing. According to foreign media including Deutsche Welle, tensions have escalated in diplomatic relations between the two countries since President Lukashenko raised suspicions that the Russian government was involved in terrorist acts against Belarus ahead of the last election. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with President Lukashenko at the end of last month, "We want the political situation in Belarus to stabilize," and added, "We believe that a constitutional reform led by the Belarusian government will lead to a peaceful resolution of this situation." Analysts interpret this as Russia proposing constitutional reform to induce a peaceful transfer of power by President Lukashenko and considering an exit strategy for the Belarus crisis.

President Lukashenko, known as Europe’s "last dictator," was elected in the 1994 presidential election, the first held after Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union, and has been in long-term power for 26 years. On the 27th of last month, he indicated that he would step down from the presidency if the parliament undertakes constitutional reform to decentralize presidential powers.

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