The Interior Ministry has previously mentioned that it can use firearms against demonstrators. The TASS agency also reported that various special equipment, including water cannons, was being downloaded to the streets of Minsk from the morning. According to the Belarusian journalist Franak Viačorka, the internet connection is also being reduced again.
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The Belarussian government announced on its official website that from today it will temporarily close the borders for the entry of foreigners and stateless persons. According to the government, the measures are related to the spread of covid-19. This week, land borders with Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine have been partially closed.
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Lukashenko said this week that he would call an army into the streets if necessary and arrange volunteers from so-called people’s companies, made up of former soldiers and members of the security forces. On Friday, the regime leader announced that he did not intend to make further concessions and threatened to use force.
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Police are preparing for a demonstration (photos from October 25)
Photo: Uncredited, ČTK / AP
Widespread protests in Belarus erupted on Sunday, August 9, in response to the non-standard conduct of the presidential election. Opposition candidate Sviatlana Cichanouska refused to acknowledge the victory of incumbent President Lukashenko, which was announced by official authorities. He considers the results to be falsified.
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The opposition estimates that the candidate actually won about 70 percent of the vote. Neither the Czech Republic nor the EU recognizes the legitimacy of the elections.
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For the first five days of the protests, the police brutally intervened against the protesters using batons, flash grenades, rubber bullets and, in some places, sharp fire. Thousands of people were detained, including casual passers-by. Authorities confirmed three dead. There have been numerous testimonies of torture of people detained in connection with the protests.
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Later, the authorities allowed the demonstrations to run more freely, but in recent weeks they have reaffirmed. For a time, they did not intervene against the women at the forefront of the current protests. However, this attitude subsequently changed. The regime is also cracking down on independent domestic and foreign media.
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