Belarus’ opposition rally for jailed protesters

The Belarus opposition braved a possible backlash from authorities and held a rally for those arrested after Alexander Lukashenko re-election, says euronews.

Izvor: EuroNews

Wednesday, 22.12.2010.

09:28

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The Belarus opposition braved a possible backlash from authorities and held a rally for those arrested after Alexander Lukashenko re-election, says euronews. Supporters gathered outside the jail in Minsk where some several hundred protesters remain locked up following demonstrations on Sunday. Belarus’ opposition rally for jailed protesters Opposition head Alexander Milinkevich said:“The authorities are checking how much the opposition can bear, how much the civil society can bear, and what will be the reaction of democratic countries. It is very important for us to show that our response is extremely negative. We demand these people be freed because they have been detained on political grounds.” But, Lukashenko, who was officially re-elected with nearly 80 per cent of the vote, has branded the demonstrations as ‘riots’. If found guilty some of the protesters, including seven of Lukashenko’s nine opposition challengers, could go to prison for 15 years. Outside Belarus’ embassy in London, protesters including actors Sir Ian McKellen and Samuel West, also gathered to demonstrate against the recent crackdown in the former Soviet Republic. International observers have described the result in Belarus as flawed.

Belarus’ opposition rally for jailed protesters

Opposition head Alexander Milinkevich said:“The authorities are checking how much the opposition can bear, how much the civil society can bear, and what will be the reaction of democratic countries. It is very important for us to show that our response is extremely negative. We demand these people be freed because they have been detained on political grounds.”

But, Lukashenko, who was officially re-elected with nearly 80 per cent of the vote, has branded the demonstrations as ‘riots’.

If found guilty some of the protesters, including seven of Lukashenko’s nine opposition challengers, could go to prison for 15 years.

Outside Belarus’ embassy in London, protesters including actors Sir Ian McKellen and Samuel West, also gathered to demonstrate against the recent crackdown in the former Soviet Republic. International observers have described the result in Belarus as flawed.

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