NPR: One Week After Election, Belarus Sees Giant Protests Against 'Europe's Last Dictator'
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Belarus on Sunday in what appeared to be their largest demonstration yet against the widely-disputed reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko.
Lukashenko, who has been labeled "Europe's last dictator," first took office in 1994 and staked his claim to a sixth term after declaring a landslide victory in the country's election last Sunday. Opponents immediately condemned the results as rigged, and a wide cross-section of citizens have been calling for change at protests every day since.
An especially massive crowd gathered in the capital of Minsk to participate in a "Freedom March" on Sunday. Many were dressed in red and white, the colors of the opposition.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: Even with the internet down and communications controlled, 200,000 showed today in Minsk demanding the resignation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. And on the other side, the demonstration that the government arranged and bused in only numbered a few thousand .... Belarus: Mass protest eclipses defiant Belarus leader's rally (BBC).
Update: Russia's news media is not hiding the fact that opposition to Belasurian President Alexander Lukashenko is massive .... Five-hour opposition rally in Minsk brings together tens of thousands of people (TASS).
Update #2: The US should say something .... Pressure builds on US to respond to brutal crackdown in Belarus (The Hill).
More News On The Unrest In Belarus
Some 200,000 hold protest rally in Minsk as Lukashenko vows to stay on -- Times of Israel
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko rejects calls for new election -- NYPost/Reuters
Lukashenko: Belarusians will be on their knees like Ukraine if they ditch me -- Kyiv Post
Leader of Belarus rejects calls to rerun presidential vote -- AP
What's happening in Belarus? -- BBC
4 comments:
I'm not sure why the US needs to or should "say something" about this. This appears to be an issue for Belarus to solve. Pethaps their Russian neighbors need to worry about it. America has far bigger issues we are dealing with. It'd be best for us to focus on these issues and to stay out of this. Our leadership probably doesn't understand it anyway.
Look at the marked differences in the Belarus protests juxtaposed to the so-called protests taking place in the US. First off, these people are peaceful and love their country. Secondly they are protesting an ACTUAL dictator - not an imagined one.
We don't see riots. We don't see black-clad looters and arsonists destroying their cities. What we see is a whole lot of young people and workers and professionals and everyday citizens marching in unity, demanding change. The right way
All Putin will do - if he interferes in Belarus - will be to give Trump the opportunity to proclaim the protesters to be righteous. To compere the degenerate punks in US cities to the noble protesters in Belarus. To declare them to be the freedom seekers that they are. And for them to be protected.
It also comes to mind that this Lukashenko is EXACTLY the type of autocrat who the Antifa/BLM agitators hope to install as their dear leader.
Let black-pajama fascists say otherwise.
A country and it's citizens' freedom to choose is a big thing to me, poster. It's why I didn't run to Canada once upon a time.
"It's why I didn't run to Canada once upon a time." I'm assuming you mean the Vietnam War. Unfortunately this came before more time and my eyesight is poor so I couldn't serve in the military. I do have friends who are suffering from lifelong injuries as the result of the first Gulf War and other stupid decisions our government has made.
I agree with you though in general. We don't turn tail and run. As such, I'm pretty sure you recognize ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter as what they are. They are invaders!! Perhaps we should quell this invasion before we "say something" about Belarus. Even then we don't understand this situation nor does it affect our interests.
Staying out of it seems prudent. What would New Zealand do here? That's a good guide as to what we should do.
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