Changes in Belarus are needed, but not at the cost of a revolution. This is stated in the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Vladimir Makei, published on August 20 on the website of the country’s foreign ministry.
“Changes are needed, no one denies this. But not at the cost of civil confrontation or revolutions. In this case, there will be many times more victims and negative consequences. We have already been pushed back many years in our development due to the events of the last days, ”the statement says.
According to the minister, Belarus is going through “the most difficult stage” in its modern history, since it is about “preserving statehood.” In this regard, he urged diplomats “not to forget their professional recognition” and not to split the collective, expressing their civic position.
The minister also said that there were attempts to put pressure on his family, including his children.
“I can still understand when threats are made against a civil servant holding a specific post. But the petty, anonymous pressure on the family, including young children, does not fit in my head with the concept of “democracy”. For these tears of my eleven year old son, I am ready to bite his throat. It doesn’t smell like democracy here. It stinks of pogroms and massacres. Units will probably fold. But in general, “thank you” to the intimidators, because such actions will cement us – those who really would like to do well for the Motherland, “he said.
A wave of unrest swept across Belarus after the August 9 presidential elections, which were again won by Alexander Lukashenko
Photo: Getty Images
The largest scale of protests was in Minsk
Photo: Getty Images
Protesters, mostly young people, took to the streets three nights in a row
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
The police used water cannons, tear gas and, according to some sources, rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
There are victims from both the demonstrators and the security forces. At least one person known to have died
Photo: REUTERS
In addition to other special equipment, the police also used flash-noise grenades.
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
On August 12, Belarusian state television reported on the detention of riot coordinators
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
Protesters in some areas pelted police with Molotov cocktails
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
In some districts of Minsk, young people began to build barricades from garbage containers and other scrap materials
Photo: REUTERS
EU countries expressed dissatisfaction with the “suppression of civil rights and freedoms” by the law enforcement agencies of Belarus
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
A large number of wounded are reported in Minsk hospitals. The exact number of victims is unknown
Photo: RIA Novosti / Victor Tolochko
The special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic were used to disperse the protesters
Photo: RIA Novosti / Ilya Pitalev
Opposition main candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya left the country and recorded a video message calling for an end to the protests
Photo: RIA Novosti / Ilya Pitalev
Accusations of violence against journalists covering the situation sounded against the Belarusian security officials
Photo: REUTERS
According to eyewitnesses, on the third night of the riots, the instigators were detained in the courtyards and entrances of houses
Photo: REUTERS
Presidential elections were held in Belarus on August 9. According to the final data of the Central Election Commission, 80.1% of voters voted for the incumbent head of state Alexander Lukashenko, 10.1% – for Tikhanovskaya.
Citizens who did not agree with the outcome of the elections took to the streets to protest. In the early days of unauthorized actions, people faced opposition from law enforcement officials.