• news
• World news
• Europe

Belarusian dictator to protesters: "There will be no revolution"; Sanctions are being considered in Europe

Lukashenko warned protesters that "the response will be appropriate" after a night of violence, following allegations of election fraud. The opposition leader called for further protests, and the union condemned Europe's last dictator: "disproportionate violence." Thousands were arrested, Putin and the President of China called to congratulate

• Belarus
• Alexander Lukashenko
• The European Union

Reuters

Belarussian ruler Alexander Lukashenko said today (Monday) that the authorities should not allow the country to be torn apart by instability, following huge demonstrations held during the night. The opposition rejected the results of the official election, according to which Lukashenko won 80% of the vote and promised to continue the protest.

According to the country's Interior Ministry, about 3,000 protesters were arrested after the election. According to human rights organizations, more than 1,300 people were arrested after the election while the regime acted to suppress the opposition.

According to the results released this morning by the authorities, Lukashenko received 80% of the vote, while his main rival - former English teacher Svetlana Tichnoskiya, won only 9.9%. Opponents of the regime allege widespread forgery against someone who entered the race only after her husband, an anti-government blogger who planned to run on his own, was sent to prison. "The authorities are not listening to us. The authorities need to think of ways to overthrow the government without violence," said Tihanuskiya, who claims she is the winner and that there have been widespread vote-rigging.

More on Walla! NEWS

• Killed and detained in clashes across Belarus after the dictator won the election
• Elections in Belarus: Europe's last dictator in the great challenge to his rule
• Belarus arrested dozens of Russian mercenaries: "Seek to undermine stability"
• 5 things that must be done soon when entering a new and empty apartment

"Certainly we do not recognize these results," Tihanuskiya clarified. Elections in the former Soviet Republic have not been defined as free and fair by foreign observers since 1995. They were not given access to yesterday's elections.

During the day, the streets of the capital and other cities were quiet after the demonstrations. The opposition wants a recount at the polls where problems were recorded and said it was ready for talks with the government. Tinushkiya's rallies have been the largest since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and yesterday she went to the polls with hundreds of her supporters shouting in her name. Part of her campaign staff was arrested before the election.

Lukashenko, who headed Kolkhoz during the Soviet era, has been leading Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, does not sound compromising. "The response will be appropriate, we will not allow the country to be torn to shreds," Lukashenko, quoted by the official news agency, said today.

More on Walla! NEWS

Belarus' Jean d'Arc: The former teacher who rose up against the last dictator of Europe

To the full article

The 65-year-old ruler reiterated his claims that foreign forces were trying to incite the protesters, whom he called "sheep", in order to overthrow him. He warned that he would not allow it. "They are trying to create chaos," Lukashenko said. "But I have already warned: there will be no revolution."

The European Union and many countries on the continent have expressed concern over security forces' violence against protesters and allegations of forgery. The union's foreign minister, Joseph Burrell, and the bloc's enlargement commissioner, Oliver Varahlai, said the Belarusian election was "disproportionate and unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters".

"We condemn the violence and call for the release of information from all detainees from last night," the EU added. "The authorities in Belarus must ensure that the basic right to demonstrate peacefully is preserved."

A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said there were many indications of election fraud and the EU was holding discussions on how to respond. Poland, Belarus' neighbor, said it wanted to convene a special EU summit on the issue of elections.

On the other hand, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Lukashenko, as did Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said he hoped Belarus would deepen its ties with Moscow. So far, Lukashenko has opposed this.

Russia is following closely

Lukashenko has angered the public for his handling of the corona plague, the economy and human rights abuses. The arrests of opposition supporters may hurt his efforts to rebuild his ties with the West against the backdrop of chilling relations with neighboring Russia, Belarus' traditional ally. Moscow is trying to pressure its neighbor west of a closer political and economic union.

Moscow is closely following the events in Belarus, through which it transmits a fall to the West. Russia sees it as a buffer in front of NATO and the West, Minsk is trying to entice her to leave the sphere of influence.

President of Belarus, presenting himself as someone who keeps the stability of the country, accusing 33 Russian mercenaries who were arrested last month planning "terrorist acts". Moscow rejected This and demanded their release.