SourceAmnesty International’s delegates in the Belarusian capital Minsk witnessed appalling violence unleashed by riot police on peaceful protesters who took to the streets last night after official announcements on election results, which protesters view as rigged. The “official exit poll results” announced by the government pointed to a sweeping win by the incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka, contradicting unofficial polls and public sentiment.
“Post-electoral violence by police has become a regular feature of politics in Belarus, where all forms of peaceful dissent are brutally suppressed. Last night Amnesty International delegates witnessed first-hand the viciousness of the police response, which included indiscriminate use of force, including stun grenades, against a peaceful crowd, and arbitrary arrests of individuals who were far from any protest,” said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
“One horrifying video shows a police van running over a protester at full speed on a wide road. This footage captures the blood-chilling ruthlessness of the Belarusian police’s actions last night, and shows why so many in Belarus are desperate for change.”
Quick summary of what has been going on over the past two months:
- There was a presidential election in Belarus. For the first time ever Lukash had a good opponent and actually risked losing power. Most people support opposition candidate.
- Fearing his opponent Lukash had plain clothes police and military harass citizens and any gatherings that supported his opponent. Peaceful gatherings turn violent, people on the street accepting pamphlets or saying they support he opposition are assaulted and get concussions or broken bones.
- Putin releases statement that further cooperation with the Bielorussian government will be achieved in the future, with the goal of eventual integration of Belarus as a federal republic within Russia. Lukash is known to be completely against this, rumors and speculation about opposition being a russian puppet start to arise.
- Voting day, massive electoral fraud occurs, Lukash wins with 80% of votes, even though less than 50% claim to have voted for him.
- People start protesting in the streets. Protesters claim police have started using the Belorussian roulette on the people (shotguns loaded at random with a mix of non-lethal and lethal rounds). Officially police fires rubber bullets, bean bags and tear gas at protestors.
- Government cuts internet and phone coverage in the entire country. Phones with cameras are confiscated by police. Foreign press is harassed.
- Opposition candidate goes missing and cannot be found. Later discovered to have fled to Lithuania after receiving tip to look out for the safety of her children.
- Lukash claims to have arrested 33 Russian "green men" - mer4cenaries used to cause chaos and topple the government, same tactic used in Crimea.
Right now the protests are still going strong. There have been cases of people being crushed by BMPs and army trucks. Officially there is only one person dead. Either way things do not look too good for Lukash.