A colleague of ex-presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Maria Kolesnikova, called on the authorities to release all those detained at opposition rallies.
According to her, as a result of protests after the presidential elections in Belarus, about 4 thousand people remain detained in the republic. Kolesnikova stated that the opposition demands their immediate release, including political prisoners who were detained even before the elections.
At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus did not confirm this information about the number of detainees. The press service of the TASS department reported that this was not true, and also pointed out that all the lists in the Zhodino SIZO and the Center for Isolation of Offenders on Akrestsin Street in Minsk were posted at the entrance with up-to-date information.
At the same time, the press service could not provide official data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the number of citizens who were detained during the protests and are currently in isolation wards.
Earlier on August 16, the press secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Olga Chemodanova, said that there were no arrests during the Sunday protests related to the results of the presidential elections.
At the moment, the protesters in Minsk began to disperse from the Independence Square. The bulk of people remain on the square near the stairs of the Government House and continue to chant slogans.
On August 9, presidential elections were held in Belarus. According to the final data of the Central Election Commission, 80.1% of voters voted for the incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, and 10.1% for the oppositionist Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
Since August 10, daily large-scale protests have been held in the country, accompanied by arrests. Both citizens and security forces were injured, one civilian was killed. Belarusian enterprises went on strike demanding to cancel the election results.
On August 9, presidential elections were held in Belarus, following which Alexander Lukashenko won 80.08% of the vote. After the announcement of the results, a wave of rallies swept in Minsk and other cities of the republic
Photo: REUTERS / Vasily Fedosenko
On August 16, a rally in support of the current head of state was held on Independence Square in Minsk
Photo: REUTERS / Vasily Fedosenko
Alexander Lukashenko came out to the participants of the pro-government action. In his address, he rejected the possibility of a repeat election
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
Speaking to his supporters, Lukashenka said that if Belarusians want reforms, they will begin tomorrow
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Yuri Karaev, who also arrived at the rally in support of the president, said that the department would deal with all cases of violence by law enforcement officials
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, about 65 thousand people gathered for the rally of supporters of Alexander Lukashenko
Photo: REUTERS / Vasily Fedosenko
Later on the same day, opponents of Alexander Lukashenko gathered at the stele “Minsk – Hero City”
Photo: REUTERS / Vasily Fedosenko
According to media reports, more than 100 thousand people attended an unauthorized rally
Photo: REUTERS / Vasily Fedosenko
Law enforcement officers removed the cordon around the stele, and paddy wagons and buses with riot policemen left the place of the action
Photo: REUTERS / Vasily Fedosenko
Also, massive actions are taking place in Grodno, Pinsk, Brest and other Belarusian cities
Photo: REUTERS / Vasily Fedosenko