Belarus: police take action against demonstrators

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A member of the electoral commission sits with a ballot box in a car in Minsk

In Belarus, on the evening of the presidential election, reprisals against government critics appear to have taken place again. Local media reports of arrests in front of polling stations and blockages of parts of the capital Minsk.

Incumbent Alexander Lukashenko was able to get almost 80 percent of the votes in the vote, according to an official forecast. His most important rival Svetlana Tichanowskaja came to 6.8 percent. However, observers speak of massive manipulation before and during the election.

Tichanovskaya expressed doubts about the election result. "I believe in what I see with my own eyes and I see that the majority is behind us," she said. The 37-year-old had massively gained approval in the past few weeks and mobilized numerous supporters, although the authorities had cracked down on the opposition. Lukashenko has been ruling Belarus with a hard hand for 26 years. His challenger Tichanovskaya came after her husband, the well-known blogger Sergei Tichanowski, was imprisoned and excluded from the election.

Men in black balaclavas were reportedly arrested by anti-terrorist police OMON on Sunday in protest of passers-by. Often the reason was not clear. Local media reported that police removed people near polling stations. Shortly before the polling stations closed, there were still long queues in some places. Videos of military vehicles taking position on the roads to Minsk were posted on social networks. The opposition had called for protests that evening. 

Massive problems with the internet

The security forces cordoned off parts of the center of the capital Minsk. For example, Independence Square could no longer be reached. Metro stations have also been closed. In addition, dozens of videos of alleged election manipulation were shared on social networks. Accordingly, ballot papers with the cross were for Lukashenkofilled in beforehand. Therefore, according to independent observers, voter turnout in Minsk was more than 100 percent in some places.

Citizens, journalists and activists complained about massive problems with the Internet on election day. Above all, many pages critical of the government were not available in Belarus. Tichanovskaya's staff warned of a complete shutdown of the network. In this way the authorities wanted to prevent organized protests.

On Sunday evening there were clashes with the police in several cities in the country. Thousands of people gathered in central squares to demonstrate against election fraud. Videos were published on social networks that showed police officers beating people in the capital, Minsk. Other passers-by then attacked the security forces to prevent arrest. In Minsk the officials used flares to drive people away. The police arrested many demonstrators. An exact number was not initially available. The human rights organization Wesna spoke in the evening of initially more than 50 arrests. There are also said to have been many injured. According to videos, an estimated 10,000 people were in the center in the capital alone.

pgo / dpa