An unsanctioned rally of the opposition in Oktyabrskaya (October) Square in downtown Minsk continued throughout the night and is still in progress early on Tuesday

Friday, January 15, 2021

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An unsanctioned rally of the opposition in Oktyabrskaya (October) Square in downtown Minsk continued throughout the night and is still in progress early on Tuesday. The meeting has continued for over 12 hours, and the number of its participants has varied from up to 4,000 people during the peak to 350 people. People keep standing hand in hand. About 15 tourist camps were pitched inside the live circle. Protesters are carrying flags of the Belarus opposition, Georgia and the European Union. Opposition candidates Alexander Milinkevich and Alexander Kozulin addressed the meeting once again at 7 am Moscow time. They said “the opposition does not recognize the results of the March 19 presidential election” and insists on a new election. Speaking to Russian reporters, Milinkevich claimed that at least ten participants in the rally had been detained during the night. He said the leader of the Belarussian United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko, as well as well-known opposition activists Alexander Dobrovolsky, Lyudmila Gryaznova and Valentina Polevikova are among them. He also said that the ambassador of Great Britain to Belarus visited the scene during the night to express support. According to press reports, access for traffic has been restricted on the central avenue towards the center, and approaches to Oktyabrskaya Square have been blocked. Milinkevich has thanked reporters, who spent the night in the square with the protesters and thus “prevented a crackdown on the rally with the use of force”. Organizers of the action, the first one in the history of modern Belarus, say they intend to continue the meeting “until the results of the presidential election are cancelled and a new election is announced”.

Print An unsanctioned rally of the opposition in Oktyabrskaya (October) Square in downtown Minsk continued throughout the night and is still in progress early on Tuesday

Bookmark An unsanctioned rally of the opposition in Oktyabrskaya (October) Square in downtown Minsk continued throughout the night and is still in progress early on Tuesday