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A woman forms the peace sign with her fingers after being arrested in Minsk
Photo: STRINGER / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
Masked uniformed men used massive violence against peacefully demonstrating critics of the authoritarian head of state Alexander Lukashenko in the Belarusian capital Minsk.
According to the Wesna Human Rights Center, around 70 arrests were made in the protests on Saturday, in which thousands of women took part.
Lukashenko, who is also referred to by critics as the "last dictator in Europe", recently filled the top positions in the security apparatus and called for tough action against unauthorized protests.
During the recent protests in Misk, a young woman suffered a facial wound from being beaten by a police officer.
She had pulled the stocking mask off the uniformed man's face, and the man slammed it.
The rallies of Lukashenko's opponents are not approved in principle, only those of the supporters who gathered in small numbers on Saturday in the center at the Victory Column.
At the same time, Lukashenko's opponents met on Freedom Square.
The rally was directed primarily against the imprisonment of the opposition politician Maria Kolesnikova.
"Give us back our Masha," the women chanted.
Women put in prisoner trucks
Masked security forces surrounded the women at Freedom Square and put some in prisoner trucks.
According to a reporter from the dpa news agency who was there, the women behaved peacefully.
Many women then managed to continue the protest march.
The march later joined forces with other women until the crowd grew to thousands.
So far, the security forces have largely held back against women and arrested mostly men.
Therefore, many demonstrators took part in the actions.
Saturdays are traditionally marked by women's protests.
In the end, however, they too came into the sights of the officials.
The police had previously warned strongly against participation.
There have been daily protests in Belarus since the presidential election more than a month ago.
After more than 26 years in power, Lukashenko claims victory with more than 80 percent of the vote.
The opposition, however, considers Svetlana Tichanovskaya to be the real winner.
The election is being criticized internationally for alleged election fraud.
Lukashenko: Army wants to react to NATO maneuvers
During the protests, Lukashenko met with the National Security Council.
According to the state agency Belta, with a view to the NATO military exercises in neighboring Lithuania, he said that when the exercise was over, the Belarusian army should "respond appropriately".
Most recently, many armed forces had been relocated to the western border.
In addition, Lukashenko had part of the army "ready to fight".
Svetlana Tichanowskaja, who sees herself as the rightful winner of the presidential election on August 9, condemned police violence against women from her exile in the EU.
"I want to warn you that anyone who commits crimes against peaceful protesters and their people will be responsible for them," said the 38-year-old.
"You have the chance to take the side of the people and stop carrying out criminal orders."
New demo expected on Sunday
The democracy movement has called for the fifth mass rally against Lukashenko this Sunday.
While thousands have so far participated in the protests on Saturdays, tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands have been out on Sundays.
This time, the Sunday demonstration has the motto "March of the Heroes", which is also dedicated to the imprisoned opposition politician Kolesnikova.
The 38-year-old is accused of trying to illegally seize power.
Your lawyer had called it absurd.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) reiterated her concern about developments in Belarus on Saturday.
"There the campaign for democracy is literally trampled underfoot," she said in her weekly video message.
"Our hearts beat with the peaceful demonstrators. It is admirable the courage and determination with which they take to the streets for freedom and the rule of law."
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kko / dpa