Tens of thousands of Belarusian opposition backers assembled in Minsk for the biggest demonstration of outrage in recent times, as President Alexander Lukashenko refused demands to step down during a speech.
Many protesters shouted phrases such as “Leave, leave,” in an attempt at getting Lukashenko to resign amid calls for a new election to take place.
Last Sunday, protests, and demonstrations began after a presidential election, which gave Lukashenko over 80% of the vote and Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, just 10% despite claims of widespread vote-rigging.
Previously on Sunday, Alexander Lukashenko held his own counter-rally on the central Independence Square in the city, with thousands of people being brought in from across Belarus.
During the government rally, Lukashenko told the crowd:
“We will not give the country up.”
“If we go into that swamp, we will never get out.”
Vladimir Putin, Russian President, previously offered military support to Lukashenko amid fears that the country will be overrun by protestors.
The Panthera Post 