A red and white wave swept through central Minsk on Sunday.
A color code now known beyond Belarusian borders to identify opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko, particularly contested since his re-election on August 9 after 26 years in power.
" Get out !
Chanted in particular the demonstrators who, despite the violence of some arrests, have continued their mobilization for several weeks.
REUTERS
The day before, a women's march had gathered thousands of people in the streets of the capital.
It had also given rise to hundreds of arrests.
But police pressure did not prevent the success of this new Sunday meeting and a parade on the avenue des Vainqueurs to the Independence Palace, residence of what is described as "the last dictator of" Europe ”.
REUTERS
Every weekend now, thousands of demonstrators are contesting his re-election.
"It is by remaining united and by constantly exerting pressure that we will be able to get rid of Lukashenko", wants to believe, for example, Valeri Kouptsevich, a 72-year-old retiree participating in the demonstration.
Slogans against Putin, Lukashenko's support
Slogans were also aimed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, a major supporter of the Belarusian leader in this crisis.
"Putin, take your fork out of the Belarusian potato!"
»Protested, referring to one of the emblematic agricultural productions of this former Soviet republic.
"I started to hate Putin whereas before I saw him positively", testifies Maxime Karpov, a demonstrator of 33 years, saying to have worked in Russia and to have "many friends there".
The Russian President and the Belarusian leader (archive) AFP / MAXIM MALINOVSKY
The police made about thirty arrests on Sunday in Minsk and 33 others in the cities of Brest, Grodno and Kobrine, according to the NGO Viasna.
In Brest (southwest), tear gas was used and a police officer used a stun grenade to disperse the crowd, according to the Minister of the Interior.
The toll the day before was much heavier: 415 people were arrested in Minsk, according to the ministry, and 15 in other cities.
Most of the demonstrators were then released, according to this source.
Among them, activist Nina Baguinskaya, 73, who became a figure in the movement against President Lukashenko, was arrested in particular, before being quickly released.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya appeals to Europe
Refugee in Lithuania, opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claims her victory in the August 9 election, said on Saturday that "Belarusians were ready to break the anonymity of those who obey criminal orders" .
President Alexander Lukashenko refuses to bow and has requested the help of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who has pledged security support in Minsk if needed and promised Belarus a loan of $ 1.5 billion.
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Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa, the heroine in spite of herself who challenges the "last dictator of Europe"
This Monday, Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa, 37, is due to meet the European Union's foreign ministers in Brussels.
European sanctions are planned against Belarusian personalities found responsible for electoral fraud and police repression.
The regime has imprisoned many cadres of the Opposition Coordination Council created by Tikhanovskaya.
Others had to flee the country.
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One of her leading allies, Maria Kolesnikova, refused to be driven out of the country.
She is now imprisoned and accused of endangering national security.
In a message published on Sunday, she addressed her supporters: “Do not be afraid to be free!
"